GBA Women’s Forum demands impartial probe into Obuasi SHTS abuse claims

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum and several human rights advocacy groups have called for an immediate and impartial investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). The allegations involve the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, who is accused of abusing approximately 19 female students. Following the emergence of these claims, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted the headmaster to allow for a formal inquiry into the matter.

In a statement released on October 22, the GBA Women’s Forum expressed grave concern over the potential breach of trust and law by an individual responsible for student welfare. The Forum, alongside various women's rights groups, urged the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service to lead a transparent investigation and prosecution process. Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has also emphasized the necessity of due process, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) clarified that it would offer no political cover for the accused if the allegations are proven.

Safeguarding experts and former government officials have called for systemic reforms in the wake of the scandal. Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, a gender and safeguarding expert, advocated for the creation of a public sex-offender register and the implementation of more stringent reporting mechanisms to protect students who come forward. Dr. Freda Prempeh, a former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, warned the GES against any internal interference, insisting that the legal system must operate independently to ensure justice for the victims and restore parental confidence in the boarding school system.

Dr. Kwabena B. Tandoh, former Deputy Director-General of the GES, further noted that educational leadership must prioritize the protection of vulnerable children over the preservation of institutional reputations. Panellists on GTV's Breakfast Show highlighted that a thorough investigation is essential to address the chilling effect such incidents have on the educational sector. The advocating groups are now pushing for a national review of safeguarding guidelines and the establishment of dedicated support services for survivors of institutional abuse.