Abdulai Zakaria suspended over sexual abuse claims at Obuasi SHTS

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Abdulai Zakaria, following a series of events involving a student riot and serious allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision comes after a GES committee reviewed a report concerning a riot on August 5, 2026, which led to the arrest of six students for damaging school property. While the committee initially recommended Zakaria’s reposting in relation to the unrest, he has since been suspended pending the outcome of a separate investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of female students.

The allegations were brought to public attention through an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni titled "Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow." The report claims that Zakaria, who also serves as the Juabeng Constituency Secretary for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), used his position to exploit students. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed both the GES and the police to conduct a thorough inquiry into the claims. Despite his suspension, reports indicate that Zakaria is seeking election as an NDC constituency chairman, leading to public concerns that political influence may have delayed the investigation.

Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights has called for swift justice, stating that the situation violates Ghana’s Children’s Act and international conventions on the rights of the child. The committee emphasized the need for higher ethical standards in the education sector and commended the Ministry of Education's intervention as more students come forward. Meanwhile, the Association of Women Lawyers, Ghana (AWLA) has used the case to advocate for the establishment of a National Sexual Offenders Register and mandatory background checks for all school personnel to prevent similar occurrences.

Institutional data highlights a troubling trend in the education sector; a review by JoyNews Research tracked 44 cases of sexual abuse involving educators since 2015, with school heads implicated in 40% of recent incidents. In response to the Obuasi case, Dr. Issahaque Munawaru of the GES stated that any staff found guilty of such misconduct would face immediate dismissal. The GES committee's report included 27 recommendations aimed at improving school safety, enhancing reporting mechanisms for harassment, and ensuring stricter penalties for misconduct.