Convener of the Network for Women’s Rights (NETRIGHT), Professor Akosua A. Adarkwa, says the suspended Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) headmaster Zakaria Abdulai has worsened his position by publicly referring to the age and parental status of the student who accused him of rape.
She said his comments, in which he disclosed that the accuser was between 20 and 21 years old and had a child, raised further concerns about attitudes towards women and the justification of sexual abuse.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 24, Prof Adarkwa said the remarks suggested a troubling attitude towards female students and the circumstances in which they could be vulnerable to abuse.
“But actually, he’s made his case worse because it means he’s sitting at the school and he’s trying to figure out which of these girls he should go and abuse. That’s what he’s saying to us,” she said.
Prof Adarkwa stressed that a woman’s character or personal circumstances could never justify sexual assault, insisting that even if the student had a reputation for misconduct, that would not give the headmaster the right to abuse her.
“And you, the headmaster, does that give you a right then? Even if she was the chief of the bad girls association, not just the Ghana version, international. She is the lead of the bad girls association international. Does that give you the right to sexually assault her? And then stand in public and use it as justification,” she asked.
She also criticised what she described as a lack of respect for women in Ghanaian society, arguing that the absence of strong public condemnation of such remarks could embolden people to express attitudes that excuse sexual violence.
“Because part of this is also that we have no respect for women in this country. So, he can boldly say something like that. He doesn’t get a reaction that makes him think, ‘Wait a minute, maybe I shouldn’t, even if I’m thinking this, I shouldn’t have the nerve to open my mouth and say this,’” she said.
Prof Adarkwa expressed concern about reactions to the case on social media, saying some comments appeared to trivialise the allegations or suggest that the student’s circumstances could be used to judge her credibility.
She urged the public to reflect on the controversy and examine the social attitudes that allow the mistreatment of girls and women to be defended or normalised.
“If you go on social media, you’ll be sick. Because sometimes I read and I’m wondering, is this person being contrarian just to have a laugh? Do they really, honestly, truly believe this? And if they do, how come we’ve created a society where we think it is acceptable to treat girls like this. We need to use this as a learning moment for all of us,” she added.
Background
Mr Abdulai, who has been suspended amid allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi SHTS, made the comments in an interview with radio host Blakk Rasta while responding to reports surrounding the case.
“I know she’s given birth. She has a child. She’s 20 to 21 years. But I cannot judge her; whether she’s bad or good. I cannot. But I have my story,” he said.
He also disclosed that he had been cautioned by the police following a complaint lodged by the student and her parents, and that he had been granted self-recognisance bail while awaiting court proceedings.
“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 said.
Mr Abdulai maintained that he had his own account of the events and said the committee that investigated the matter had heard both his account and that of the student and her relatives.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the claims against the suspended headmaster have not been established in court.