Zakaria Abdulai
The Minority Women’s Caucus has demanded an independent inquiry into the handling of alleged sexual abuse involving students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), insisting that officials found to have failed the victims must be held accountable.
The Caucus is also demanding a thorough investigation into every allegation, protection and support for the affected students, and an explanation from the responsible ministers to Parliament on the actions taken by state authorities.
Addressing the media in Parliament yesterday, the Women’s Caucus, led by the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, said the authorities must account for when they first became aware of the allegations, the steps taken to address them, and why the students were left seeking help.
According to the Caucus, media reports indicate that at least 19 girls have alleged abuse involving the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
The Caucus acknowledged the headmaster’s interdiction and the Interior Minister’s announcement on October 20, 2026, that he had been arrested.
It, however, maintained that these developments did not resolve questions about the handling of the complaints.
The statement cited the police as saying that a complaint made on August 4 had been investigated and the docket forwarded to the Attorney-General.
However, the Minority Women’s Caucus questioned why the public explanation on October 20 referred to only one complaint despite reports involving at least 19 girls.
The Caucus called on the government to reach out actively and sensitively to other complainants, arguing that students who report alleged abuse should not have to navigate official procedures without assistance from the state.
It further demanded an independent inquiry into the handling of earlier complaints, including possible political interference, with the findings identifying officials responsible for any failures and recommending appropriate sanctions.
The statement also questioned the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s handling of the matter, recalling that the party’s Deputy General Secretary had defended the decision to allow Mr. Abdulai to contest the Juaben Constituency chairmanship on October 19, despite the allegations.
The party directed him to step aside the following day, a decision the Caucus described as necessary but insufficient to erase questions about its earlier response.
It called on the NDC leadership to explain why it had considered the official’s political ambitions while, in its view, failing to demonstrate comparable urgency over the allegations involving the students.
The Caucus also called for an independent investigation into any suggestion that political influence had delayed action or shielded the headmaster, insisting that anyone found to have suppressed complaints or obstructed an investigation must be held accountable.
On the welfare of the affected students, the Minority Women’s Caucus demanded immediate access to counselling, medical care and legal assistance. It also called for measures to protect them against intimidation and retaliation, and insisted that their identities remain confidential.
The Caucus wants the Ministers of Education, Gender, Children and Social Protection as well as the Interior to make a statement to Parliament setting out the chronology of events, the action taken by the authorities and measures being implemented to protect students.
It also proposed the establishment of confidential reporting channels in schools that operate outside the authority of any headteacher accused of abuse.
The Women’s Caucus stressed that the headmaster was entitled to a fair investigation and the presumption of innocence, while the students were equally entitled to protection and a proper investigation of their complaints.
The Caucus commended the students who spoke out, their families, and other stakeholders for demanding accountability.
It pledged to pursue parliamentary oversight and keep the matter before the public, insisting that anyone found to have abused a student, concealed a complaint or obstructed justice must face the consequences.
Meanwhile, the suspended Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Zakaria Abdulai, has broken his silence on the matter, disclosing that the police have cautioned him and granted him self-recognisance bail.
Mr. Abdulai said he was granted bail after a female student and her parents reported him to the police over an alleged rape incident.
Speaking in an interview with radio host Blakk Rasta, Mr. Abdulai said he had been cautioned by the police and was awaiting the next stage of the legal process.
“I have been cautioned because one girl and her 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,” he stated.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House
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