New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organiser, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), insisting that authorities beyond the school's headmaster must also be held accountable.

She says the allegations point to a wider institutional failure, with complaints reportedly reaching school authorities as far back as March 2026 and records suggesting similar malpractices dating back to 2021.

‘Justice must be pursued without fear or favour’ – Hawa Koomson on Obuasi SHS case

In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the former Member of Parliament said the situation went beyond the alleged conduct of the suspended headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, and exposed serious weaknesses in the protection of students.

“I wish to state unequivocally that the allegations of rape, sexual harassment, and sexual assault against the headmaster, Mr Zakaria Abdulai, have now revealed a crisis of protection that goes far beyond one individual’s conduct,” she stated.

Although she acknowledged steps taken by the Ghana Education Service, the Police and the Gender Ministry, she argued that the actions so far were insufficient to address the matter.

Koomson called for the investigation to be extended to school authorities, the District Chief Executive, the District Director of Education and institutions where the headmaster had previously worked.

“The actions and inactions of the School authorities, the District Chief Executive, the District Directors of Education must all be scrutinised. This must be expanded to include previous schools the headmaster has taught,” she added.

She also urged the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to review safeguarding systems in schools and establish confidential reporting channels, including toll-free telephone access and counselling departments in basic and second-cycle institutions.

The NPP Women's Organiser further called on the Vice President to intervene, stressing that the matter required urgent action beyond political considerations.

As part of efforts to demand justice for the affected students, the Women's Wing of the NPP is scheduled to lead a peaceful demonstration in Obuasi on Friday, November 6, 2026.

The protest, according to Koomson, will seek justice for the victims and call for safer schools for children.

“We demand answers. We demand action. We demand justice,” she declared.

Read the statement below





NA/BAI