Zakaria Abdulai arrested over Obuasi SHTS sexual abuse allegations

Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), has been arrested and interdicted following allegations of sexual abuse involving multiple female students. Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka confirmed the arrest during a session with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on October 20, 2026. The case, which was initially handled at a regional level, has been transferred to the Police Headquarters for a comprehensive investigation. Following a report filed with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in September, authorities are currently seeking DNA evidence to support the claims, which involve between 16 and 19 female students.

The allegations, which gained national attention through an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, include reports of predatory behavior and severe safeguarding breaches. Experts have highlighted specific incidents where students were allegedly required to run personal errands, such as delivering food to staff residences. Amartei K. Amartey, a safeguarding officer, and Dr. Millicent Adjei of Ashesi University, have condemned these practices as unacceptable boundary crossings that put children in vulnerable positions. They criticized the school administration for failing to foster a supportive environment where students felt safe to report misconduct without fear of intimidation.

In response to the scandal, the Ministry of Education has admitted to serious structural failures within the Ghana Education Service (GES) reporting system. Deputy Minister Dr. Clement Abas Apaak stated that the bureaucratic mechanisms designed to protect students collapsed as local administrators suppressed initial complaints. To address this, the Ministry has proposed a new direct reporting portal to prevent local officials from obscuring future allegations. Additionally, the GES has suspended two education directors and relevant officials while the investigation continues. Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for strict adherence to due legal process, emphasizing that the matter must be handled responsibly to ensure justice for the affected students.

Advocacy groups and professional bodies are now demanding systemic reforms and immediate support for the victims. SOS Children’s Villages Ghana and the Medical Women Association of Ghana (MWAG) have urged the government to provide comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and educational recovery plans. Meanwhile, Child Rights International has called for the GES counseling unit to be transformed into an independent authority to provide oversight and handle welfare complaints without institutional bias. The Aya Institute for Women, Politics and Media has also demanded a national audit of all school safeguarding protocols within 30 days to ensure educational institutions remain safe for all students.