Filmmaker and former National Film Authority (NFA) Executive Secretary, Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, has called on the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to explain why Zakaria Abdulai is still a member of the NFA Governing Board despite recent allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students.

In a Facebook post on October 19, 2026, Juliet Asante questioned Abdulai’s continued presence on the board, sharing his photograph and asking the ministry to address the issue.

“Why is this gentleman still on the board of the National Film Authority? Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, please tell us. #YaaMusings #JulietAsante. There is really no art to find the mind’s construction on the face,” she wrote.

Her latest comments followed an earlier Facebook post published on October 15, 2026, in which she urged the NFA to publicly address the matter in a statement titled “THE NATIONAL FILM AUTHORITY MUST SPEAK”.

Juliet said reports about the allegations against Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, were disturbing, particularly because several students had reportedly come forward and questions had been raised about how previous complaints were handled.

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“I have followed with deep concern the disturbing reports surrounding Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, and the serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students currently under investigation.

“The reports are deeply troubling, particularly given the number of students who have reportedly come forward and the questions being raised about how earlier complaints were handled,” she wrote.

She explained that Abdulai’s position on the NFA board made the issue a matter of concern to her, given his long-standing involvement in the Authority’s governance.

“He served on the Authority’s board during my tenure as its founding CEO, representing the Film Producers’ Association of Ghana, and was subsequently reappointed to the board inaugurated in August 2025, this time representing the Collective Management Organisation of Audiovisual Rights Owners. His association with the governance of the NFA therefore spans two board appointments,” Juliet said.

Juliet also questioned the responsibility of public institutions when members of their governing boards face serious allegations.

“What responsibility does a public institution have when one of its governing board members becomes the subject of allegations of this magnitude?”

Abdulai’s role on the NFA board

The current NFA Governing Board was inaugurated on August 4, 2025, with Abdulai representing the Audiovisual Rights Society of Ghana (ARSOG), which represents collective management interests in audiovisual rights.

He previously served on the board under the Akufo-Addo administration as a representative of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG).

Allegations against Abdulai

Abdulai has come under public scrutiny following an investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni into allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape involving female students.

The investigation, titled “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow,” also examined how authorities responded to complaints against the headmaster.

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to suspend Abdulai pending a full investigation into the allegations.

The minister also asked the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters to investigate the matter.



AK/EB