Haruna Orders Swift Justice for SHS Sex Victims

…GES Moves to Protect Victims, Whistleblowers

By Philip Antoh

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has assured the nation that the alleged sexual abuse of 19 schoolgirls at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) will not be swept under the carpet.
In a press statement reacting to the scandal exposed by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni in his documentary “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow,” the Minister described the incident as a scandalisation of the nation’s conscience.
“The alleged sexual abuse of nineteen schoolgirls by the now interdicted Headmaster of the Obuasi Senior High Technical School won’t or can’t just be swept under the carpet,” he said.
The Minister said the incident offers a golden opportunity for policymakers to address the issue holistically, revealing that institutional records show similar malpractices dating as far back as 2021.

Independent Investigations Underway
The Minister disclosed that the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) are leading independent and transparent criminal investigations into the allegations of rape and sexual assault against the former headmaster, Mr. Zakaria Abdulai.

He assured that there will be prosecution without political interference. This follows calls by civil society groups, including the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), that political affiliations must not shield the accused.

Immediate Institutional Actions
The Minister outlined the immediate steps being taken, including enforced interdiction, noting that the Ghana Education Service (GES) interdiction of Mr. Abdulai will remain in place to protect the integrity of investigations and prevent any abuse of authority.
He said the 19 affected students, and any other potential victims, are receiving immediate psychological counselling, medical care and academic continuity support, while safeguards will be established to enable students, staff and journalists to report misconduct without fear of intimidation or reprisal.
The Minister also commended Manasseh Azure Awuni for exposing the issue.

Broader Reforms on the Table
The Ministry is considering wider reforms for Senior High Schools. Under the proposals, schools would establish confidential reporting channels that bypass headmasters’ offices, linking directly to DOVVSU and the GES.
MTN is also prepared to partner with the Ministry to establish a dedicated hotline.
The GES and the Girls’ Education Unit are to enforce strict protocols under which any suspected power-based or teacher-student relationship triggers immediate interdiction and independent review.
Parliament and stakeholders are also expected to close gaps in the supervision of authority figures in schools.
The Minister further revealed that the Vice-President, H.E. Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has expressed serious reservations about the matter.

Assurance to Parents
“I wish to give assurance to parents and the Ghanaian public as a whole that our children their children are safe in our educational institutions,” the Minister stated.
He, however, cautioned the public against stereotyping all schools on account of the Obuasi incident, and against approaching the issue emotionally.
“With a concerted, level-headed and firm approach, we’ll tackle this unfortunate matter as a government and a nation, in order to safeguard the education and well-being of our future mothers and leaders,” he concluded.
Earlier, civil society groups had issued various statements condemning the alleged sexual harassment by the headmaster.
Notable among them was the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), which issued a statement by its Convenor, Dr. Akosua K. Darkwah, demanding urgent action regarding the allegations against the Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Mr. Zakaria Abdulai.
The group demanded criminal prosecution and condemned institutional failures, including school authorities, police and institutional bodies that allegedly knew about the conduct but failed to protect the vulnerable schoolgirls or assist them in seeking justice.