The New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organiser, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has called for a swift, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High School.
The call follows media reports alleging incidents of rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of abuse involving the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
In a statement dated October 19, 2026, Mrs. Koomson expressed shock and concern over the allegations, particularly reports that some complaints had been brought to the attention of school authorities as far back as March 2026 without meaningful action to protect the affected students or address their concerns.
She said any failure by school authorities to act on such complaints, if established, would raise serious questions about their duty of care and responsibility to safeguard students.
“As a mother, a professional teacher and an advocate for the rights and welfare of women and children, I consider these allegations profoundly troubling,” she stated.
Mrs. Koomson urged the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the appropriate legal consequences, regardless of political affiliation, social standing or institutional position.
She stressed that the allegations must be handled without political interference, adding that the safety and dignity of children should take precedence over partisan interests.
Calls for protection of affected students
The NPP women’s organiser also expressed concern about reports of possible intimidation, victimisation and reprisals against the students and their families.
She called on the relevant authorities to take measures to protect the identities and safety of the alleged victims throughout the investigative and judicial processes.
Mrs. Koomson further urged authorities to create a safe and confidential environment for students to report abuse, warning that fears of retaliation could discourage other potential victims from speaking out.
She called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and child protection organisations to provide the affected students and their families with the necessary support, including professional counselling, trauma-informed psychological care, medical assistance and other protective services.
She said the best interests of the child must guide all decisions arising from the matter, in line with the principles of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560).
Demands review of school safeguarding systems
Beyond the allegations at Obuasi Senior High School, Mrs. Koomson called for a comprehensive review of child protection and safeguarding policies across educational institutions.
She said the reports raised broader concerns about the effectiveness of existing complaint procedures, supervision arrangements and accountability mechanisms governing the conduct of teachers, headmasters and school administrators.
According to her, the Ghana Education Service must use the incident as an opportunity to assess whether schools have reliable and enforceable systems to prevent sexual abuse, respond promptly to complaints and protect students from further harm.
“Every school must have reliable, effective, and enforceable ways to stop sexual abuse and exploitation, quickly respond to complaints, and make sure that students are safe both physically and mentally,” she said.
She maintained that schools must remain safe environments where girls can pursue their education without fear of abuse, intimidation or discrimination.
Appeals for national support
Mrs. Koomson also appealed to women across the country, particularly the Vice-President, to support efforts to secure justice for the affected students and strengthen protections for girls in educational institutions.
She urged state institutions, civil society organisations, child protection advocates, traditional and religious leaders, and the general public to support an independent investigation and ensure that the welfare of the students remains central to all interventions.
“This matter transcends political affiliations, institutional loyalties and individual interests,” she said, describing the protection of vulnerable children as a shared national responsibility.
The allegations have renewed attention on the need for effective safeguarding systems in schools and prompt responses to complaints of sexual abuse.
The claims against the headmaster remain allegations, and the outcome of any investigation will be necessary to establish the facts and determine whether any criminal or professional misconduct occurred.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
