Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), has resigned as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) secretary for the Juaben constituency and withdrawn his candidature for the constituency chairmanship.
In a letter on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and addressed to the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Mr Abdulai said both decisions take immediate effect.
The development comes after the NDC directed him to step aside from the chairmanship race to allow for an unhindered investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service into allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students.
In the letter, Mr. Abdulai said he was resigning from his position as the incumbent constituency secretary while withdrawing from the forthcoming internal election.
“I write to formally notify you of my decision to resign from my position as the incumbent Secretary of the Juaben Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with immediate effect.
“I also wish to formally withdraw my candidature for the position of Constituency Chairman in the forthcoming NDC constituency elections, effective immediately.”
Mr. Abdulai expressed gratitude to people who had continued to support him despite the allegations levelled against him and his office.
“I wish to express my profound gratitude to my friends, relatives, and all well-wishers who have stood by me and maintained their faith in my innocence in the face of the allegations levelled against me and my office,” he wrote.
He also thanked the NDC for the opportunity to serve the party, describing his involvement as a privilege.
Mr. Abdulai’s withdrawal follows a change in the NDC’s position on his participation in the Juaben constituency chairmanship contest.
The party initially directed him to withdraw from the race or face disqualification. It later reversed that decision, allowing him to contest after he appeared before the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) to respond to the matter.
However, following further consideration, the party announced on October 20 that he must step aside to allow the CID investigation to proceed without hindrance.
The NDC said the decision was taken in the interest of transparency and accountability, stressing that it did not amount to a determination of the allegations against him.
The allegations involving female students at Obuasi SHTS came into public attention following an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni titled ‘Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow’.
The Ghana Education Service has interdicted Mr. Abdulai pending investigations, while the CID is handling the criminal aspect of the allegations. The claims have not been established in court.
In his resignation letter, Mr. Abdulai said he intended to focus on clearing his name and proving his position.
