Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Reopens National Debate on Reintroducing Corporal Punishment to Curb School Indiscipline

Haruna Iddrisu refers Obuasi SHTS headmaster to CID for criminal probe

Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has formally referred allegations of sexual misconduct against Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for a criminal investigation. This directive follows the interdiction of Mr. Abdulai by the Ghana Education Service (GES) as administrative inquiries proceed. The Minister emphasized that the government of President John Mahama maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse and the exploitation of office, asserting that such conduct has no place in the nation’s educational institutions. The case gained national attention following a JoyNews investigative report and subsequent reports that the allegations involve at least 19 female students. Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, has described the school as a "big crime scene" and criticized the delay in law enforcement action, noting that the headmaster reportedly admitted to his actions in a documentary. The allegations triggered student unrest and led to the temporary closure of the school, with some stakeholders calling for its immediate reopening to ensure students' academic progress is not further disrupted after more than two months of closure. Beyond the immediate criminal referral, the Ghana Education Service faces significant scrutiny over its management of the crisis. Director-General Professor Ernest Kofi Davis is expected to testify before a parliamentary committee to address concerns regarding the GES’s transparency and its perceived year-long delay in responding to the initial complaints. Gapson Kofi Raphael, General Secretary of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, also condemned the school authorities and the GES for failing to advocate for the safety and welfare of the affected students, suggesting a potential cover-up during the early stages of the investigation. The controversy has extended to other public institutions, with calls from filmmaker Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante and political communicators for Mr. Abdulai’s removal from the National Film Authority (NFA) board. Critics argue that his continued presence on the board undermines public trust while a criminal investigation is active. In response to the broader issue, Minister Iddrisu announced that a committee will be established to provide guidance on addressing sexual misconduct in schools, as the government explores stricter regulations to govern the conduct of both teachers and students across the country.