19 Students, One Headmaster: How The Obuasi SHTS Abuse Case Exposes Gaps In School Safety

Story By: Deborah Adorsu

A growing wave of school-related sexual abuse cases has reignited debate over who should be held accountable when students are abused within school premises and whether schools remain safe havens for children.

Concerns have deepened following Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, an investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni, which centers on allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape involving female students and the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Mr. Zakaria Abdulai.

According to the report, petitions from students, parents and teachers were submitted to school management, education officials and other authorities, but no effective action was taken for more than a year.

The MCE for Obuasi, Faustilove Appiah Kannin, confirmed she received a report about the headmaster allegedly sleeping with a student shortly after assuming office.

The Municipal Director of Education for Obuasi West, George Alfred Koomson, also confirmed that five girls had reported alleged assault by the headmaster to his office in March 2026.

Following a directive from the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted Mr. Abdulai and lodged a complaint with the Police.

The case is now reported to involve 19 alleged victims.

Looking at What the law saysUnder Ghana law, sexual abuse of a student by a teacher is a first-degree felony that cannot be settled out of court.

The Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) provides that defilement of a child under 16 years, whether with or without consent, attracts 7 to 25 years imprisonment [Section 101].

Rape of a student 16 and above without consent attracts 5 to 25 years [Sections 97/98], while indecent assault covers unwanted sexual touching.

The GES Code of Conduct also expressly prohibits any sexual relationship between a teacher and a learner.

Consent is not a defence due to the inherent power imbalance. Sanctions include interdiction, dismissal, revocation of professional licence, blacklisting, and referral to the Police/DOVVSU.

Officials who conceal abuse face disciplinary action and possible criminal liability for abetment
Stakeholders are now calling for mandatory reporting protocols, thorough background checks for staff, confidential reporting channels for students, and strict sanctions for any authority that covers up abuse, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed Mr. Zakaria Abdulai to withdraw his bid for the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship or face disqualification, as investigations continue.

All allegations remain alleged, pending the outcome of police investigations.

The unresolved question is whether our second-cycle institutions remain safe havens for knowledge, or have become breeding grounds for abuse.