Obuasi SHTS sex scandal: Second complainant alleges pressure to withdraw case

The Women’s Caucus from Ghana’s Minority side in Parliament has demanded a complete, independent inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). The Caucus stated the inquiry must clarify when the authorities first learned of the complaints, what actions they took, and why the affected students struggled to obtain assistance.

They also called for an investigation into any political interference aimed at delaying action, covering up complaints, or shielding the school’s headmaster. The Caucus emphasized that any official found to have hindered complaints or obstructed justice should face consequences, while protecting the identities of the students in any published report.

Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, speaking to the press in Parliament, criticized the interim actions taken against headmaster Zakaria Abdulai and the police and Ghana Education Service's response. She argued that these measures did not address the main concerns about possible institutional failures and the protection of the students' safety and dignity.

She insisted that the headmaster should be given a fair investigation, respecting the presumption of innocence, and that the authorities must protect students' complaints even before criminal proceedings conclude. Appiagyei raised concerns over discrepancies in the police's account of the case, noting that despite complaints from at least 19 girls, only one was reported investigated by the police.

She urged the police to reach out to more potential complainants to ensure their accounts are heard and investigated, emphasizing that officials failing to act on complaints or pass them from one office to another without proper protection would be seriously derelict in duty. She called for prompt advice from the Attorney-General on the police's docket and urged authorities to provide public updates on the investigation while safeguarding the complainants' identities, privacy, and safety.

The Caucus also questioned the National Democratic Congress’s handling of the allegations, pointing out that the party defended Abdulai's decision to contest the Juaben constituency chairmanship despite the allegations. They criticized the party’s response, calling for an explanation of why comparable urgency was not shown earlier in addressing the allegations.