ActionAid Ghana has petitioned the Ministry of Education over allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (Obuasi SHTS) in the Ashanti Region, calling for urgent investigations and comprehensive support for the alleged victims.
In a petition dated October 23, 2026, the organisation expressed concern about the reported abuse and what it described as the apparent shielding of the alleged perpetrator by education authorities.
ActionAid Ghana, however, acknowledged the presumption of innocence and the need to respect due process, stressing that the allegations must be investigated thoroughly and impartially.
The organisation warned that the case raised serious concerns about student protection and the effectiveness of safeguarding systems in Ghanaian schools.
It cited a JoyNews Research review that reportedly documented at least 44 cases of teachers and headteachers accused of sexually abusing students since 2015. According to the petition, only 12 of the cases resulted in convictions, while 23 had no reported outcome.
The organisation also referenced cases involving Bole Senior High School, Dzodze-Penyi Senior High School, Okadjakrom Senior High Technical School, KNUST Senior High School and Labone Senior High School.
ActionAid Ghana said the allegations highlighted the need to strengthen mechanisms for reporting abuse, protecting students from intimidation and ensuring accountability for misconduct within educational institutions.
Calls for investigations and accountability
The organisation urged the relevant authorities to expedite investigations into the allegations involving the Obuasi SHTS headmaster and ensure that the process was transparent, impartial and free from political interference.
It called on the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Education Service (GES), the Attorney-General’s Department and the Ministry of Education to work together to establish the facts and ensure justice for the alleged victims.
ActionAid Ghana further demanded stronger rights education and safe reporting mechanisms across schools to enable students to recognise abuse and report incidents without fear of retaliation.
It also called for an urgent review and enforcement of safeguarding policies in educational institutions, including the establishment of offender registers subject to appropriate due-process and confidentiality safeguards.
The organisation cautioned against the practice of transferring alleged offenders to other schools without addressing the allegations against them.
Support for alleged victims
Beyond investigations, ActionAid Ghana stressed the need to provide the affected students with medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance.
It urged the GES and other relevant state institutions to ensure that the students could continue their education without disruption and were protected from stigma, intimidation and retaliation.
The organisation also called for the state to acknowledge any harm established through the investigation, address institutional failures and provide appropriate remedies to survivors.
“Schools must be safe spaces for learning, where every student is protected from sexual abuse, intimidation and the misuse of authority,” the petition stated.
Broader concerns over school safety
ActionAid Ghana said the outcome of the Obuasi SHTS case should lead to stronger safeguarding measures and improved accountability across the country’s educational system.
The organisation encouraged citizens to sustain their engagement and vigilance until justice was served, emphasising that no individual should be above the law.
Copies of the petition were addressed to the Vice-President, the Ministers responsible for the Interior, Justice, and Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and other relevant child protection and human rights institutions.
The organisation said coordinated action by the relevant authorities was necessary to protect students’ rights, restore public confidence and ensure that schools remained safe environments for every child.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
