Former Gender Minister Otiko Afisah Djaba has challenged President John Dramani Mahama and Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to demonstrate stronger leadership over allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
She said the authorities must go beyond public statements and calls for the law to take its course to ensure the affected students receive immediate protection, support and justice.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Ms Djaba urged the Vice-President to visit the school and engage directly with the alleged victims while investigations into allegations against the headmaster continue.
“While the law is taking its course, what’s happening to the children?” she asked, arguing that the welfare of the students should not be overlooked while the legal process unfolds.
“I would have expected by now that she herself would go there,” she added.
Ms Djaba said the Vice-President’s position as Ghana’s first female Vice-President presented an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on issues affecting women and children.
She stressed, however, that her appeal was not intended to limit Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s responsibilities to gender-related matters but to emphasise the need for practical action when the welfare of vulnerable students was at stake.
“When you have been given this huge opportunity, to whom much is given, much is expected,” she said.
Djaba Questions Handling of Allegations
The former minister also criticised the handling of the allegations, arguing that an earlier and more decisive response could have prevented the situation from escalating.
Referring to April 2025, she questioned why the matter had not been addressed more effectively at the time, saying the alleged failure to intervene had contributed to concerns about the number of students affected.
“The law, as we have seen, has failed us. The system has failed the girls,” she said.
“If this thing had been addressed in April of 2025, do you think we would be talking about 19 girls? No, it wouldn’t have gotten to that,” she added.
Ms Djaba argued that timely intervention could have helped prevent further alleged abuse and spared other students from harm.
Her comments follow a statement by the Vice-President describing the allegations as a serious national concern and calling for the law to take its course.
President Urged to Speak Out
Ms Djaba also called on President Mahama to publicly address the allegations, insisting that protecting children and upholding the law should take precedence over political considerations.
She questioned the President’s public response to the matter and said his position as head of state required him to demonstrate concern for the affected students.
“And the President of Ghana, what has he said? He’s the father of all of us,” she said.
Acknowledging that the person at the centre of the allegations was a member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), she maintained that party affiliation should not prevent the President from speaking firmly on the issue.
“Yes, the person is a member of his party. But even if it is your child who has committed a crime against Ghana, you must speak up and let the people of Ghana know,” she said.
She further argued that a clear statement from the President could reinforce public confidence in the institutions handling the investigation.
The allegations involving the Obuasi SHTS headmaster have triggered calls for accountability, stronger safeguards for students and measures to ensure that alleged victims receive appropriate support.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and the relevant legal processes.
