Parliament’s Human Rights Committee condemns alleged sexual abuse at Obuasi SHTS

The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has expressed strong disapproval of allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). In a statement released on Thursday, October 15, the Committee demanded a swift prosecution of the case and the imposition of the maximum sentence should the accused be found guilty.

The Committee emphasized that the alleged actions breached Sections 2 and 13 of the Children's Act, 1998, and Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This reaction came after a JoyNews investigation that brought to light the allegations of sexual abuse at the school. The Committee praised the Minister of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) for their prompt action, including the removal of SHTS headmaster Zakaria Abdulai and the suspension of another housemaster, as well as the initiation of a police investigation into the matter.

The Committee urged educational institutions across Ghana to maintain the highest ethical, moral, and professional standards in their interactions with students. Protecting children's rights and ensuring their education takes place in a secure environment were underscored as critical priorities. The Committee also called upon the justice system to expedite the prosecution, asserting that a heavy sentence upon conviction would act as a deterrent and help prevent future incidents.

The Committee pledged to use its oversight role to keep tabs on the investigation and prosecution process, and advocated for policy revisions to enhance protections for children in educational settings.