Withdraw from Juaben chairmanship race or face disqualification – NDC tells Obuasi SHTS headmaster

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has informed Zakaria Abdulai, the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, that he must withdraw his bid for the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship or face disqualification. Julius Anthony, Deputy National Communications Director, made this announcement on JoyNews’ The Probe.

The NDC has communicated this stance to Mr Abdulai, emphasizing that he must either withdraw his candidacy or risk being disqualified from the party. This directive stems from ongoing law enforcement investigations into Mr Abdulai for alleged sexual harassment, assault, and rape of female students, as well as his role as the NDC’s Juaben constituency secretary.

Abdulai, who also serves as the headmaster, has been under scrutiny following a JoyNews investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni titled "Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow." The investigation uncovered numerous complaints against Mr Abdulai, including allegations of sexual misconduct, which prompted Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to suspend him on October 13.

The minister also requested the Criminal Investigation Department to probe the allegations. The documentary raised concerns about the delays in investigating these complaints and suggested possible influences from powerful individuals. Despite the ongoing police and GES investigations, Mr Abdulai has declined to comment on the allegations, citing the current investigations.