Minority Women's Caucus demands independent inquiry into Obuasi SHTS abuse allegations

Following sexual abuse allegations involving 19 female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, the Minority Women’s Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament called for an independent inquiry on October 22, 2026, demanding accountability for institutional delays surrounding the interdicted headmaster.

Parliamentary Pressure and Demands for an Independent Inquiry

The Women’s Caucus from the Minority side of Parliament stepped up scrutiny over the handling of abuse allegations at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), demanding an independent inquiry into when school and state authorities first learned of the complaints. Addressing journalists in Parliament, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei argued that the recent administrative interdiction of headmaster Zakaria Abdulai and actions by law enforcement fell short of answering why students were allegedly left seeking assistance without prompt state intervention.

Sexual abuse in schools: Obuasi SHTS headmaster has denied involvement in sexual abuse allegations.

Lawmakers insisted that investigators examine whether political interference played a role in delaying action or shielding leadership from scrutiny. The Caucus urged the Attorney-General to issue prompt prosecutorial advice on case dockets submitted by police and called for officials who failed to act to face administrative and legal sanctions.

The inquiry findings must identify the officials responsible for failures and recommend sanctions, but student identities must be protected in any published report.

Minority Women’s Caucus, via Graphic

Headmaster Response and Legal Proceedings

Interdicted headmaster Zakaria Abdulai maintained his innocence while awaiting court proceedings, stating in a broadcast interview that he possessed his own account of events and had presented it to investigating committees.

Obuasi SHTS: Schoolgirls detail sexual abuse allegations against headmaster | JoyNews Today

The documentary alleged abuse involving between 14 and 19 female students.

I have been cautioned because one girl and their parents said, I have raped her. So they reported, I was cautioned, and as a headmaster, I was given self-recognisance bail. I’m waiting for court days.

Zakaria Abdulai, via Citinewsroom and Asaase Radio

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu referred the allegations to the Criminal Investigations Department for a criminal inquiry, while the Ghana Education Service pursued a separate administrative investigation. The Education Ministry stated it learned of the allegations following the documentary broadcast, although reports had reportedly reached the Obuasi and Ashanti Regional Directors of Education earlier.

Political Repercussions and Party Stance

Amos Blessing Armose, the NDC Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser, explained that party leadership asked him to step aside to allow investigations to proceed without the party prejudging the matter.

NDC General Secretary Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey stated at a press conference that the party would not interfere with law enforcement or shield anyone found culpable of criminal conduct. Abdulai ultimately resigned from his position as Juaben NDC constituency secretary.

Obuasi SHTS sexual abuse case: Police forward headmaster’s docket to Attorney General | JoyNews Desk

If he’s found guilty, he’ll pay the highest price. If he’s not guilty, we’ll be happy for him. So we want the law enforcement to do its own job.

Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, via 3News

Child Protection Advocates Call for Structural Reform

Child Rights International urged the government to overhaul school safeguarding mechanisms across Ghana. During a press briefing in Accra, Executive Director Bright Appiah proposed separating the counseling unit of the Ghana Education Service from its administrative hierarchy to establish an independent oversight authority. Appiah pointed to systemic weaknesses in protecting children within educational institutions and recommended deploying social welfare officers to basic and secondary schools.

Appiah noted that government expenditure in the education sector had risen from more than GH¢20 billion in 2022 to approximately GH¢25 billion in 2023, GH¢32 billion in 2024, and GH¢42 billion in 2025. He argued that these investments would not achieve their intended outcomes without adequate protection for student safety and welfare, citing past cases in other institutions including Bawku Senior High School and Obuasi.

Obuasi SHTS rape allegations: Police complete investigations into headmaster’s case | JoyNews Today

Former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba also criticized the timeline of institutional responses, questioning why the matter was not reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit or police earlier and arguing that the case should have been addressed in 2025 rather than reaching the Attorney-General’s office late in the enforcement process.

Keep reading