Parliament’s Standing Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into alleged sexual abuse involving students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), warning that no individual or institution should be shielded from accountability.

In a statement issued on October 23, 2026, the Committee said the allegations, brought to public attention through investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, were deeply troubling and required urgent action by the relevant authorities.

The Committee urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to establish the facts, examine how previous complaints, if any, were handled and ensure that anyone found culpable faces appropriate disciplinary or criminal consequences.

“Every child has the right to safety, dignity and an education, free from abuse, intimidation and exploitation,” the statement said.

It stressed that schools must serve as safe environments for learning and personal development, not places where people entrusted with the care of children exploit their vulnerability or abuse their authority.

The Committee’s call comes after the allegations against the school’s headmaster, Mr Zakaria Abdulai, were brought into the public domain through the documentary. The Committee acknowledged his suspension pending investigations and the referral of the matter to the police, but insisted that these initial measures must lead to a credible process that delivers accountability and earns public confidence.

“The investigation must establish the facts, examine the handling of any previous complaints and ensure that every person found responsible, whether through direct involvement, concealment or a failure to discharge their safeguarding responsibilities, faces the appropriate disciplinary or criminal consequences,” it stated.

The Committee also commended the Ministers for Education and Gender, Children and Social Protection, Haruna Iddrisu and Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, respectively, for meeting with Manasseh Azure Awuni to obtain first-hand information on the allegations and inform their ministries’ responses to the protection and support needs of affected students.

Parliament warns against interference

While demanding accountability, the Committee cautioned against treating the allegations as established facts before the conclusion of investigations and any subsequent judicial proceedings.

It emphasised that every accused person is entitled to due process and must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.

However, it warned that due process must not be used to justify inaction, interference in investigations or attempts to protect individuals from scrutiny.

“No position, political affiliation or institutional interest should place any person beyond scrutiny or above the law,” the statement stressed.

The Committee also commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for directing Abdulai to step aside from the Juaben Constituency chairmanship contest while the police investigation was pending.

It further noted his subsequent resignation as Juaben Constituency Secretary and withdrawal from the contest, describing the developments as consistent with the principle that political office should not shield anyone from scrutiny.

The Committee maintained, however, that the allegations must ultimately be determined by the appropriate investigative and judicial authorities.

Affected students need protection and support

Beyond the investigation, the Committee called for immediate measures to safeguard the welfare of the students involved.

It urged the relevant authorities to ensure that affected students have access to confidential counselling, appropriate medical care and other necessary support services.

It also called for measures to protect students, families, witnesses and whistle-blowers from intimidation, retaliation and stigmatisation.

The Committee appealed to the media and the public to respect the privacy and dignity of the children involved, warning against the circulation of material that could expose them to further harm.

It commended Manasseh Azure Awuni and the investigative team behind the documentary for bringing the allegations to public attention, noting that responsible investigative journalism plays an important role in exposing suspected wrongdoing and compelling institutions to account for the protection of vulnerable children.

Committee calls for school safeguarding reforms

The Committee said the allegations should prompt a broader review of safeguarding systems and complaints-handling procedures in schools across the country.

It called for safe, accessible and confidential reporting channels through which students can report abuse without fear, alongside clear procedures for prompt referral, independent investigation and effective action.

According to the Committee, any weaknesses that allow complaints to be ignored, suppressed or mishandled must be identified and corrected to prevent similar situations from occurring.

“As members of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare, we stand with affected students and their families,” the statement said, reaffirming the Committee’s commitment to parliamentary oversight and the protection of children in educational institutions.

It concluded that child protection must remain a priority, with investigations conducted fairly and anyone found responsible held accountable under the law.

“The protection of children is non-negotiable. Due process must be upheld, the truth must be established, and anyone found responsible must face the full consequences of the law,” the Committee stated.

The statement was signed by the Committee’s Chairperson, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, on behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare.

EA