Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang urges due process in Obuasi SHTS assault case

Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has broken her silence on the sexual assault allegations involving multiple female students and the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). Speaking on the matter while monitoring developments from abroad, the Vice-President emphasized the importance of allowing the law to take its course. She highlighted the national implications of the case, noting that the outcome is critical for the lives and futures of the students involved, and acknowledged the official responses already issued by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the matter.

The scandal centers on Mr. Zakaria Abdulai, who was interdicted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) following reports of gross sexual misconduct. The case also caused significant internal friction within the NDC, as Abdulai was an aspirant for the Juaben Constituency chairmanship. The party’s handling of his candidacy was described as "untidy" by communications team member Hamza Suhuyini, after the NDC initially withdrew his name, then briefly reinstated it, before finally insisting on his resignation as police investigations intensified. Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni suggested the party had been initially misled by a biased GES committee report that downplayed the gravity of the abuse.

The Vice-President’s statement follows a wave of criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NPP Director of Communications, and Mavis Hawa Koomson, the National Women’s Organiser, both slammed Opoku-Agyemang for what they described as a disappointing silence. They argued that, as Ghana’s first female Vice-President, she had a duty to be a more vocal advocate for the protection of girls. However, the Progressive Organisation for Women’s Advancement (POWA) countered these claims, asserting that evaluations of the Vice-President should focus on her overall governance responsibilities rather than being restricted to gender-specific advocacy.

Adding to the controversy, NDC communications officer Daniel Nortey was forced to issue a public apology after making widely condemned remarks that appeared to question the nature of the allegations. Following intense backlash on social media and from within his own party, Nortey expressed deep regret for his comments and asked for forgiveness from the victims and the public. Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang concluded her remarks by urging all stakeholders to respect due process while ensuring the safety and rights of students remain the top priority as the legal process moves forward.