Zakaria Abdulai sexual abuse case transferred to Accra

The investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and rape against Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), has been elevated to the Police Headquarters in Accra. Interior Minister Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak confirmed the transfer during a parliamentary session, noting that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is now managing the case following Abdulai’s arrest. The shift to national oversight follow accusations of misconduct involving several female students and has drawn significant public attention.

The case gained momentum after a 20-year-old student reported being raped on July 25, 2026. She alleged that the headmaster lured her to his residence under the pretense of an errand before the assault occurred. According to reports from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the student further claimed that Abdulai offered her GH₵100 to remain silent about the incident. The Ghana Police Service has since completed its regional investigation and forwarded the case docket to the Attorney-General’s Office for prosecution advice.

Minister Muntaka revealed that investigators are currently seeking court orders to collect DNA samples to support the ongoing probe. While the initial report focused on a single victim, the minister indicated that authorities are investigating broader allegations involving up to 19 female students. Amidst the mounting criminal proceedings, Abdulai has resigned from his position within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), though he continues to maintain his innocence throughout the process.

In a parallel legal development, Abdulai has filed a GH₵2 million defamation lawsuit at the High Court in Accra against investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and the Multimedia Group Limited. The suit contends that the reports of sexual abuse are false, defamatory, and malicious. Meanwhile, child rights advocates have emphasized that survivors are never to blame for abuse and have called for strengthened protective measures within Ghanaian educational institutions to ensure student safety.