Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for due process in the handling of sexual abuse allegations involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), describing the matter as a serious national concern.
She said the allegations had implications not only for those directly affected but also for future generations, urging the public to allow the legal process to proceed.
Speaking to journalists upon her return from a working visit to Shanghai, China, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said she had followed developments surrounding the case even while she was outside the country.
“We have all followed what is going on in our country regarding the case of sexual assault,” she said.
The Vice-President said she had taken note of public reactions, the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s response to the matter and comments by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, during a meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“I want all of you to be aware that I followed this even when we were away, and I have received some reactions,” she said.
“I’ve seen what the party did regarding this gentleman who wanted to run on our tickets. I’ve seen the letter that was written by our Secretary General. I’ve also heard the response from the Minister for the Interior at the PAC meeting, I think yesterday.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the allegations were too serious to be treated lightly and called for the law to be allowed to take its course.
“What I want to say at this point is that this is a very, very serious matter. It is a matter of concern to all of us, and it is a matter of national concern,” she said.
She added, “And what I want to see is that we all allow the law to take its course, because this is a very serious matter, especially as it affects the lives of people, not only in the present, but also going into the future. So let’s allow the law to take its course. Thank you very much.”
The controversy follows an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni titled ‘Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow’, which examined allegations of sexual abuse involving female students of Obuasi SHTS and the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
On October 14, 2026, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the immediate suspension of Mr. Abdulai pending investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female student.
The minister also requested that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service investigate the matter.
Police subsequently referred the case docket concerning an alleged rape to the Attorney-General’s Office for further action, according to reports published on October 17. The allegations remain subject to the legal process.
The case has also raised questions about the headmaster’s political activities. Mr. Abdulai is reported to be the NDC constituency secretary for Juaben and had sought to contest the constituency chairmanship position.
The party initially considered action against his candidacy but later said it had heard his side and would proceed cautiously while investigations continued. On October 20, the NDC directed him to step aside from the constituency chairmanship race pending the investigation.
The allegations have prompted calls for accountability and stronger safeguards for students.
Amnesty International Ghana has called for a prompt, independent and survivor-centred investigation, while other civil society groups have condemned the reported abuse.
