Obuasi SHTS abuse: Culture of tolerance enabled sexual abuse – Rev. Apprey

Lady Rev. Amesika Apprey, the founder of A-Partners@Law, has expressed her concern over the culture of tolerance and enablement that allowed sexual abuse to persist at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. In an interview on JoyNews’ The Law, she questioned why decisive action was not taken despite the existing laws and the Ghana Education Service (GES) code of conduct designed to guide staff responses to misconduct.

She emphasized that the adults featured in the documentary had contributed to the culture of enablement and tolerance, taking it personally as she herself has a teenage child who will soon attend secondary school. The revelations from JoyNews investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni have left her with a myriad of thoughts. The investigation, titled Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, uncovered allegations of sexual harassment, assault, and rape involving female students at the school.

Despite numerous complaints and petitions from students, parents, and teachers submitted to school management, education officials, and other authorities, no effective action was taken for over a year. Mr. Zakaria Abdulai, the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, is now under suspension following the controversy.