Lawyer and Director of the Mineral Titles Department at the Minerals Commission, Ing, Frank Asare Pedro, has urged the embattled Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Abdullai Zakaria, to cease granting public statements about the sexual abuse allegations against him and instead focus on his legal battle.

Lawyer Asare Pedro advised the Headmaster to let his lawyer handle his defence and present his side of the case through the appropriate legal processes.

“Zakaria should stop talking,” he said, criticising some comments attributed to the suspended headmaster about the allegations.

Speaking on Accra-based Asempa FM, he said Zakaria should be cautious about making public statements, particularly where they could be perceived as questioning the accounts of alleged victims.

According to him, the reported allegation involving 19 girls is serious and should not be dismissed as the work of people seeking to damage Zakaria’s reputation.

“How can they organise 19 girls all to come and lie on him?” he asked.

Ing. Asare Pedro said that if Zakaria believes the allegations are false or has evidence supporting his defence, he should present it before the court rather than through media interviews.

“Even if he has his side of the story, he should rather say it in court and present his enemies. The person he needs very much is his lawyer,” he stated.

The Lawyer further urged law enforcement agencies to conduct their work diligently to ensure justice, while calling on parents and guardians to remain vigilant in protecting children from abuse.

He said Zakaria should avoid further media interviews because, in his view, he had already suffered significant reputational damage in the court of public opinion.