Omanghana
Former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba, has condemned allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, calling for support for the affected students and safeguards against intimidation.
Speaking on JoyNews on Friday, October 23, 2026, Djaba described the allegations involving the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, as deeply disturbing and unacceptable.
She urged Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to visit the affected students, arguing that leadership must extend beyond references to legal procedures. According to Djaba, the children need visible reassurance and support while the case is being addressed.
Djaba expressed concern that intimidation, victimization or interference could discourage students from speaking openly and prevent the full facts from emerging. She stressed that their safety, privacy and welfare must remain central to the response.
She also cautioned against attempts to resolve the allegations through private arrangements, maintaining that the matter should be handled through the appropriate processes.
Her call for protection extended to teachers who reported the alleged abuse and journalists whose work brought the allegations to public attention. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that those who speak out do not face retaliation.
The controversy followed an investigative report titled “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow,” which alleged that Abdulai sexually assaulted at least 19 female students and attempted to conceal the alleged acts through bribes. Those claims remain allegations and should not be treated as findings of guilt.
The report has prompted demands for accountability from political figures and advocacy groups. Parliamentary Human Rights Committee Chairman Ernest Yaw Anim called for a speedy prosecution and the maximum applicable sentence if the headmaster is found guilty. The Minority in Parliament has also requested an independent parliamentary inquiry.
Human Rights and Development Services, alongside the Ghana Education Service and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, announced plans for sensitization campaigns in senior high schools to encourage reporting of sexual violence.
Presidential staffer Beatrice Annan and MP Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz also condemned the alleged exploitation, stressing the responsibility of school authorities to provide a safe environment for students.
Djaba’s intervention adds to calls for a response that protects the affected children, supports those reporting abuse and allows the allegations to be thoroughly examined.
Source: Omanghana
