The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) National Women’s Organiser, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, has called for a swift, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High School.
In a statement dated October 19, 2026, Hawa Koomson expressed shock and concern over media reports, including an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, implicating the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
According to the reports cited in her statement, the students recounted alleged incidents of rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of abuse. She also raised concerns over claims that some complaints were brought to the attention of school authorities as far back as March 2026 without meaningful action.
Hawa Koomson urged the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that appropriate legal action is taken if sufficient evidence is established.
She further called for measures to protect the identities and safety of the affected students and their families amid concerns about possible intimidation, victimisation and reprisals.
The NPP National Women’s Organiser also appealed to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to provide the students with professional counselling, psychological support, medical care and other necessary protective services.
She called on the GES to review its child protection policies, reporting procedures and accountability mechanisms to strengthen safeguards against sexual abuse and exploitation in schools.
Emphasising that the matter should not be politicised, Hawa Koomson said the protection of children must take precedence over political affiliations and institutional interests.
She also appealed to women across the country, particularly the Vice President, to take an active interest in the matter and support efforts to secure justice for the affected students.
Hawa Koomson stressed that accountability must be pursued without fear or favour and that schools must remain safe environments where students can learn and develop without fear of abuse.
By: Bernard Mensah
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