The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has condemned alleged sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), calling for expedited prosecution and the maximum sentence if the accused is found guilty.
In a press release dated October 15, 2026, the Committee said it had taken notice of a Joy News investigation detailing serious allegations of sexual abuse at the school.
The Committee described the alleged acts as violations of Sections 2 and 13 of the Children’s Act, 1998, as well as Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
It commended the Minister of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the swift interdiction of the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, and the suspension of another housemaster, alongside the initiation of a police investigation into the matter.
The Committee also urged school authorities, management, teaching and non-teaching staff in second-cycle and other educational institutions across the country to uphold the highest ethical, moral and professional standards in their dealings with students.
It stressed the need to safeguard children’s rights while ensuring that they enjoy their fundamental right to education in a safe and supportive environment.
The Committee further appealed to the justice system to fast-track the prosecution of the case, stating that the maximum sentence should be applied if the headmaster is found guilty, to deter potential offenders and prevent similar incidents in the future.
According to the Committee, it will continue to exercise its oversight mandate by monitoring the investigation and prosecution of the case.
It added that the need for deterrence should be accompanied by policy reviews aimed at strengthening safeguards for children in educational institutions nationwide.
The statement was signed by the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Member of Parliament for Kumawu, Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim.
By: Bernard Mensah
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