Zakaria Abdulai resigns as NDC Juaben Secretary amid sexual abuse probe

Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, has resigned from his position as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Juaben Constituency Secretary and withdrawn his candidacy for the chairmanship race. His resignation, which took effect on October 20, 2026, followed a formal directive from the NDC's Functional Executive Committee (FEC) for him to step aside. The party’s decision aims to facilitate a transparent investigation into serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving several female students at his school.

The allegations against Mr. Abdulai gained national attention following an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which reportedly detailed cases of abuse involving more than 14 students. In response to the findings, the Ghana Education Service (GES) interdicted Mr. Abdulai, while the Ministry of Education requested the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a criminal inquiry. The NDC leadership noted that while Mr. Abdulai is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the gravity of the claims necessitated his removal from the political front to protect the party’s image and ensure an impartial probe.

The party’s stance on the matter evolved through several stages before reaching this conclusion. The NDC initially cleared Mr. Abdulai to contest the chairmanship race, citing the need to protect his rights and natural justice. This decision drew sharp criticism from stakeholders, including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and child rights advocates, who argued that allowing him to run undermined the integrity of the educational system and the safety of survivors. Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande later clarified that the party would monitor the police investigation closely and take further disciplinary action if the allegations are substantiated.

In his resignation letter addressed to the NDC General Secretary, Mr. Abdulai expressed gratitude to his supporters and maintained that he is stepping down to focus on clearing his name through legal channels. He affirmed his commitment to the party but emphasized that resolving the allegations is his immediate priority. The NDC has directed the Ashanti Regional and Juaben Constituency Election Committees to proceed with the upcoming internal elections in accordance with the new development.