The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has called for a thorough investigation into allegations of sexual assault and rape involving the Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Mr Zakaria Abdulai, reportedly affecting 16 female students.
The association has also demanded accountability from school and education officials, including the school’s Housemistress, Madam Adwoa Yeboah, the Obuasi East Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ashanti Regional GES Director.
In a press statement dated October 19, 2026, and signed by its General Secretary, Tweneboa Kodua, and Vice President for Operations, Nana Oppong, AYA said the allegations required urgent, transparent and decisive action from the relevant authorities.
The association stressed that an administrative investigation by the GES should not replace criminal investigations by the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
It urged the parents and guardians of the affected students to seek legal assistance and pursue justice through the appropriate legal channels, while calling on the Ghana Police Service and other competent authorities to investigate the allegations impartially.
“An administrative investigation cannot, by itself, replace criminal accountability,” the statement said.
AYA further called for the identities and privacy of the students to be protected throughout the investigative process, warning against intimidation, victimisation and any attempts to discourage them from seeking justice.
Calls for accountability within the school
The association demanded an investigation into the conduct and supervisory responsibilities of the school’s Housemistress, Madam Adwoa Yeboah, questioning the adequacy of safeguarding arrangements and supervision within the school’s boarding facilities.
It called for disciplinary proceedings to commence against her and demanded her removal from the position of housemistress, citing alleged negligence and failure to discharge her duties.
AYA said the investigation should establish whether appropriate boarding-school rules were enforced, whether adequate supervision was provided and whether any warning signs were ignored or inadequately addressed.
The association also demanded accountability from the Obuasi East Municipal Director of the GES, insisting that the relevant education authorities must answer questions about their oversight responsibilities and the measures in place to protect students.
It further called for the Ashanti Regional GES Director to be reprimanded over his alleged conduct when the matter first came to public attention.
According to AYA, concerns had been raised about the Regional Director’s demeanour, his handling of the situation and alleged threats directed at the students.
The association called on the GES and the Ministry of Education to investigate the allegations concerning his conduct and take appropriate disciplinary action if wrongdoing was established.
The claims concerning the school and education officials have not been independently verified in this statement.
Appeals to Parliament and the Office of the First Lady
AYA has called on the Women’s Caucus in Parliament to take up the matter and use its oversight responsibilities to demand answers from the relevant authorities.
It said the allegations raised broader concerns about the protection of girls in educational institutions and the adequacy of existing safeguards against sexual abuse and exploitation.
The association also criticised the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, questioning its effectiveness in addressing challenges affecting women and girls.
It urged the Office of the First Lady to support efforts to protect the affected students and strengthen national advocacy for the safety and welfare of girls.
The association said practical support, access to justice and stronger protective measures were necessary to ensure that students could pursue their education without fear of abuse.
Criticism of traditional authorities
The statement expressed disappointment in the Adanse Traditional Council, the Adansehene and the Adansehemaa over what the association described as a lack of decisive action concerning the allegations.
AYA said traditional authorities had a responsibility to uphold the moral values, cultural integrity and dignity of their communities, particularly when matters affecting the safety of children arose.
It urged the traditional leadership to demonstrate moral leadership and demand accountability, arguing that the protection of vulnerable students should take precedence over political considerations.
The association also criticised the Ministry of Education, although it did not elaborate on specific demands directed at the ministry under that section of the statement.
Commendation for investigative journalism
AYA commended investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and Joy FM for bringing the allegations to public attention.
It said investigative journalism played an important role in exposing matters of public concern and holding institutions accountable.
However, the association expressed disappointment with what it considered insufficient coverage of the matter by media organisations in the Ashanti Region.
It urged local media houses to intensify investigative reporting on child protection, institutional accountability and other development-related issues rather than focusing predominantly on partisan politics and public personalities.
Demands for protection and institutional reforms
The association called on the relevant authorities to ensure that the affected students received appropriate psychosocial support, access to legal assistance where necessary and protection against intimidation or retaliation.
It also urged the GES and the Ministry of Education to strengthen safeguarding measures in schools and ensure that any established misconduct attracted appropriate sanctions.
AYA said it would continue engaging relevant stakeholders and pursuing lawful and peaceful advocacy to ensure that the matter remained in the public domain until satisfactory answers were provided.
The association maintained that the allegations should not be reduced to a political dispute or a public relations exercise, insisting that the safety and welfare of the students must remain the priority.
It called for justice for the affected students, accountability for any established failures and stronger measures to make schools safer for all children.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and any determination of criminal responsibility must be made through the appropriate legal process.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
