The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured the public that it will not shield suspended Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) headmaster Zakaria Abdulai from investigations into sexual abuse allegations against him.
The party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, said the NDC supports an independent and thorough investigation by law enforcement agencies and would not interfere with the process.
Addressing the media, he said, “ As a party, we do not endorse any such conduct, and we want law enforcement to do an independent job. We assure the world that this party [NDC] will not in any way interfere.”
Mr. Kwetey stressed that the party would not protect any individual accused of wrongdoing, adding that the investigation must establish the facts of the case.
The NDC’s position follows public criticism of how it handled Mr Abdulai’s bid to contest the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship.
The party initially allowed him to contest despite the allegations but reversed its decision on October 20, directing him to step aside to allow the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct an unhindered investigation.
The NDC has stressed that the directive does not amount to a determination of the allegations against him.
Mr. Abdulai, who is also an NDC constituency official, came under scrutiny following an investigative exposé by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni titled ‘Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow’.
The investigation examined allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi SHTS.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the Ghana Education Service to suspend Mr. Abdulai pending investigations and requested a police inquiry into the allegations.
Mr. Kwetey said the NDC does not endorse rape, sexual misconduct or sexual abuse, regardless of the individuals involved.
The party has maintained that the matter should be resolved through the appropriate investigative and legal processes, with its next steps guided by the outcome of the investigation.
