It was clear gov’t wanted to cover up Obuasi SHTS sexual abuse – Akosua Manu

Advisor on Gender and Social Protection to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Akosua Manu, accused state institutions of not taking swift action on the alleged sexual abuse of 19 female students at the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). In an interview with JoyNews’ The Pulse, she criticized the Ghana Education Service (GES) for not responding promptly, including extending the deadline for the committee investigating the allegations by a week.

This reaction, she stated, demonstrates weak systems for handling such cases. Ms Manu also alleged that there had been attempts to cover up the incident until public pressure compelled authorities to act. She highlighted that similar issues could potentially arise in private educational institutions if proper reporting and accountability systems were not implemented.

The advisor further criticized President John Mahama for not addressing the allegations publicly, describing this situation as unprecedented in Ghana's history. She questioned the government's dedication to protecting women and girls, arguing that their silence on the allegations contradicted their stance on gender equality. Ms Manu emphasized that the government must demonstrate urgency in addressing such matters, or they risk being ignored.

She also requested the police to provide a detailed account of their investigative steps, including what has been done to date. Ms Manu urged authorities to explore the possibility of other potential victims, stressing that the headmaster had taught at other schools in the past. She warned that the mishandling of the case could deter other victims and witnesses from coming forward.