ActionAid Ghana seeks justice and repair for 19 Obuasi SHTS Girls allegedly abused by Headmaster

ActionAid Ghana has petitioned the Ministry of Education to intervene for justice and repair for 19 girls of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (Obuasi SHTS) in the Ashanti Region who were allegedly sexually abused by the headmaster of the school.

In a petition dated October 23, 2026, and addressed to the Honourable Minister of Education, ActionAid said it was writing with "profound concern and unwavering sense of responsibility, anchored in our mandate to advance women's rights, child protection and social justice."

The organisation said the petition was triggered by "recent widespread reportage in the media of alleged sexual abuse of some girls by the Headmaster of the Obuasi SHTS and the apparent shielding of the perpetrator by the Ghana Education authorities."

While respecting the presumption of innocence and due process, the NGO said it is "deeply concerned by the number of girls and the serious safeguarding implications for students in Obuasi SHTS and sister schools across the country."

"We are extremely worried that this may just be the tip of the iceberg of a growing canker in our educational system," the petition stated.

ActionAid cited a JoyNews Research review which documented "at least 44 cases of teachers and headteachers accused of sexually abusing students since 2015, including Bole SHS, Dzodze-Penyi SHS, Okadjakrom SHTS, KNUST SHS and Labone SHS in the past year alone."

According to the petition, "Only 12 of these ended in conviction, and 23 have seen no reported outcomes. No SHS Headteacher has ever been convicted."

The organisation said schools must be safe spaces for learning, "where every student is protected from sexual abuse, intimidation and the misuse of authority."

Concerns

ActionAid outlined four key concerns:

1. Safeguarding and protection of girls in schools, noting that educational institutions "have a duty to protect students from sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment and other forms of violence."

2. Bodily autonomy, dignity and consent, stressing that "Every person has the right to bodily autonomy, dignity and freedom from sexual violence."

3. Justice and accountability, stating that "Accountability must extend to any person found, through due process, to have committed, facilitated or concealed abuse. No social status or political affiliation places anyone above the law."

4. Survivor-centred support and protection from retaliation, questioning "Where are the survivors, and have they been given proper health care and psychosocial support?"

Demands

The organisation made four demands to the relevant authorities:

It called for transparent, impartial and expedited investigations "devoid of political machinations, to establish the facts and ensure justice is served to the survivors of the alleged rape and sexual abuse."

It also called for strengthened rights education and safe reporting mechanisms nationwide to "empower girls to recognise and report abuse, challenge the quiet settlement of cases, and ensure accountability."

Furthermore, it demanded urgent safeguarding reforms, including the establishment of "offender registers with appropriate due process and confidentiality safeguards, and end the practice of quietly transferring alleged offenders to other schools without accountability."

Lastly, it called for reparation for survivors, urging the Ghana Education Service to "immediately acknowledge the harm suffered, provide medical, psychosocial and legal assistance, ensure continuity of education, and protect them from stigma and retaliation."

In its conclusion, ActionAid said: "It is our fervent wish that the Attorney-General, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education and all relevant institutions act with urgency, integrity and accountability to ensure justice for the survivors."

"The outcome of this case must lead to stronger safeguarding systems, meaningful accountability and safer learning environments for every student. Together, let us rebuild schools that girls can trust," it added.

The petition was copied to the Vice President, Ministers for Interior, Justice and Attorney-General, and Gender, Children and Social Protection, as well as the Inspector General of Police, CHRAJ, and all relevant child protection and human rights institutions.