dthanki
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for the law to take its course in the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, describing the matter as a serious national concern.
Speaking to journalists at the Jubilee Lounge of the Accra International Airport, following an official visit to China, she stressed the need for due process while acknowledging the implications of the allegations for students’ wellbeing and future.
The Vice President said the country’s response must be guided by established laws, rules and regulations rather than public sentiment.
Her comments followed an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni in which 19 female students reportedly accused the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, of sexual abuse.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu subsequently directed Abdulai’s suspension, and the Ghana Education Service interdicted him pending a full investigation into the allegations.
The GES also instructed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education and the Obuasi East Municipal Director of Education to step aside to prevent possible interference with the inquiry.
The Vice President’s emphasis on legal procedure has also prompted calls for immediate measures to protect the students while investigations continue.
A professor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, responding to her remarks, argued that safeguarding students should proceed alongside the legal process. He maintained that protective measures for vulnerable students must not be delayed until investigations or any subsequent proceedings are concluded.
The case has brought renewed attention to the responsibility of education authorities to ensure student safety while allowing the allegations to be thoroughly investigated.
Source: Omanghana
