The Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called for urgent reforms and stricter enforcement of safeguarding policies in Ghana’s schools following reports of alleged sexual misconduct by the Assistant Headmaster of KNUST Senior High School involving a female student.
In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Eduwatch expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it not as an isolated case but as a symptom of broader systemic failures in safeguarding learners — particularly girls — within the education sector.
“While we condemn this individual act of abuse, we must also confront the institutional culture that allows such violations to occur in the first place,” Eduwatch stated. The think tank commended the Ghana Education Service (GES) for its swift interim actions — including removing the officer from post and restricting his access to the school — but urged the authorities to go further.
Eduwatch is demanding a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the overall nature of student-staff relations at KNUST SHS, stressing that the issue must be addressed systemically, not case by case. They have also called on the National Teaching Council to permanently revoke the teaching licence of the officer if found guilty, emphasizing that safeguarding student welfare must override institutional reputation.
Beyond disciplinary actions, the group is urging the Ministry of Education and GES to fully implement and monitor child protection and anti-sexual harassment protocols across all secondary schools. According to Eduwatch, the lack of accountability and weak enforcement mechanisms have created environments where abuse can occur unchecked.
The case has reignited national conversations around sexual abuse in schools, with growing demands for a policy overhaul, teacher re-training, and stronger whistleblower protections for students.
Eduwatch reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for learner safety and accountability in Ghana’s education system, stating: “Every school must be a place of safety, not a space of silent suffering for our girls.”
