The Parliament of Ghana’s Committee on Human Rights has condemned allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), calling for the speedy prosecution of the case and the maximum sentence if the accused headmaster is found guilty.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 15 October 2026, the Committee said it had taken note of a Joy News investigation that exposed serious allegations of sexual abuse at the school.
The Committee described the alleged conduct of the headmaster as a violation of Sections 2 and 13 of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), and Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
It stressed the need to protect children from sexual abuse and ensure that educational institutions remain safe environments for students.
The Committee commended the Minister of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the swift interdiction and suspension of the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, alongside another housemaster.
It also welcomed the initiation of a full police investigation into the allegations.
The Committee called on school authorities, management, teaching and non-teaching staff in second-cycle institutions and other educational establishments across the country to uphold the highest standards of ethical, moral and professional conduct.
It emphasised that those entrusted with students’ education and welfare have a responsibility to safeguard children’s rights as they pursue their fundamental right to education.
The Committee has appealed to the justice system to fast-track the prosecution of the case and impose the maximum sentence if the headmaster is found guilty.
According to the Committee, a strong legal response would help deter potential offenders and prevent similar incidents in the future.
It added that it would continue to monitor the investigation and prosecution in line with its parliamentary oversight responsibilities.
The Committee also expressed hope that the case would prompt policy reviews to strengthen safeguards for children in educational institutions across Ghana.
The statement was signed by the Member of Parliament for Kumawu and Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, Ernest Yaw Anim.
The Committee’s intervention comes amid renewed attention to the responsibility of educational authorities to protect students from sexual abuse and ensure accountability when allegations of misconduct arise.
