The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reversed its directive asking embattled Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai to withdraw from the party’s constituency chairmanship race.
The party’s Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, says Mr Abdulai can now file and contest while investigations into allegations of sexual abuse against him continue.
Mr Gbande confirmed the reversal but cautioned that permission to contest did not protect the aspirant from possible disciplinary action.
“He can now file and proceed,” he said.
The decision follows Mr Abdulai’s appearance before the party’s Functional Executive Committee, where he was allowed to respond to the allegations and the processes initiated against him.
Mr Gbande explained that the earlier directive was preliminary and had been reconsidered after the committee reviewed the ongoing investigations, including processes initiated by the Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The aspirant also told the committee that he had issued writs against some individuals connected to the matter, although Mr Gbande said he was unsure whether the legal action involved defamation claims.
The allegations feature in investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which examines claims of sexual abuse involving female students at the school.
Mr Gbande said the NDC wanted to respect the aspirant’s rights while allowing the relevant investigations to proceed.
“We have given him an opportunity to state his case, and so I wouldn’t be his PRO,” he said.
He added that the party’s General Secretary would closely monitor the investigations, with the findings informing the leadership’s next steps.
Mr Gbande stressed that Mr Abdulai could still face disciplinary action, even if he wins the constituency chairmanship election. He said findings against the aspirant could lead to his removal from the position.
Mr Abdulai, a long-serving constituency secretary, is seeking to become the NDC chairman for the Obuasi constituency.
The party says it will proceed cautiously as the investigations continue and make further decisions based on the findings.
