The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has called for a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual assault and rape involving 16 female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), insisting that the matter must go beyond an internal administrative inquiry.
The association said the allegations against the school’s suspended headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, required the intervention of law enforcement authorities to ensure that any wrongdoing established through investigations was dealt with under the law.
In a statement dated October 19 and signed by its General Secretary, Tweneboa Kodua, and Vice President, Nana Oppong, AYA expressed “profound outrage” over the allegations and called for decisive action to protect the affected students.
The association argued that an investigation by the Ghana Education Service (GES), while necessary, could not substitute for a criminal probe by the Ghana Police Service.
It urged parents and guardians of the affected students to pursue the matter through the police and the courts to ensure that the allegations were thoroughly investigated and any proven offences addressed.
“Silence must not become complicity. Position must not become immunity. And power must never be a substitute for accountability,” the statement said.
AYA questions school supervision
Beyond the allegations against the headmaster, AYA called for investigations into the conduct of other education officials whose actions or responsibilities it believes should be examined.
The association specifically called for an investigation into the conduct of the school’s housemistress, Adwoa Yeboah, over alleged lapses in supervising boarding facilities.
It questioned whether adequate safeguards had been in place to protect students, particularly during the night, and said the circumstances surrounding the allegations required a broader examination of the school’s supervision arrangements.
AYA also called for accountability from the Obuasi East Municipal Education Director and urged the Ashanti Regional Director of the GES to be reprimanded over what it described as conduct that created the impression of defending the headmaster rather than prioritising student protection.
The association warned that it could mobilise traditional authorities and other stakeholders to disengage from the regional director if the GES and the Ministry of Education failed to take action.
The claims against the officials have not been independently established, and any disciplinary measures would need to be informed by the findings of an investigation.
Calls for protection and support for students
AYA stressed that the welfare of the students must remain central to the handling of the case.
It called on the authorities to protect the identities and privacy of the alleged victims and provide them with psychosocial support and legal assistance.
The association also urged authorities to ensure that the students were not subjected to intimidation, retaliation or other forms of pressure during investigations.
It said schools must provide safe environments for students and that allegations of abuse should be handled in a manner that protects complainants while allowing the relevant authorities to establish the facts.
“A school must be a sanctuary of learning, discipline and protection, not a place where students are exposed to fear, abuse or exploitation,” the statement said.
Parliament, traditional leaders urged to intervene
The association appealed to Parliament’s Women’s Caucus to exercise its oversight responsibilities and demand answers on measures to protect girls in educational institutions.
It also called on the Ministry of Gender and the Office of the First Lady to take an active interest in the matter.
AYA criticised the Adanse Traditional Council and other traditional leaders for what it described as a lack of decisive public action, arguing that the safety of children should take precedence over political considerations.
The association further urged media organisations, particularly radio stations in the Ashanti Region, to sustain coverage of the case and ensure that the matter remained in the public domain.
It commended investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and Joy FM for bringing the allegations to national attention through the documentary Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow.
Investigation remains critical
The allegations have triggered renewed scrutiny of safeguarding arrangements at Obuasi SHTS and the responsibilities of officials tasked with protecting students.
The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, earlier directed the GES to suspend Abdulai pending a full investigation and requested an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters.
Abdulai has not publicly responded to the latest demands by AYA. The allegations against him remain unproven, and the outcome of the investigations will be critical in determining whether any criminal or administrative wrongdoing occurred.
AYA said it would continue to pursue the matter through lawful and peaceful means, insisting that protecting students and ensuring accountability must remain the priority.
