GES directs Ashanti, Obuasi Municipal East education directors to step aside over Obuasi SHTS sexual assault probe

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi East Municipal Director of Education, Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside with immediate effect amid ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai.

In a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations at GES, Daniel Fenyi, management said the directive was intended to ensure that the investigations proceeded without potential interference or the perception of interference.

The two directors have been instructed to hand over their offices and all state property in their possession to the Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Thomas Kwame Boateng.

Meanwhile, the headmaster remains interdicted, with GES urging the public to disregard reports suggesting that he has been cleared.

“Management calls for calm, support and cooperation as thorough investigation into the matter continues,” the statement said.

GES has not indicated when the investigations are expected to be completed.

Zakaria Abdulai is facing allegations of sexual assault as the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School.

The allegations against the headmaster are detailed in investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni's documentary titled Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which investigates alleged sexual abuse of female students at Obuasi SHTS.

Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu ordered the GES to interdict Abdulai on October 13 pending investigations and has petitioned the Police CID to probe the matter.