Akosua Manu, an adviser on Gender and Social Protection to former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has criticised state institutions for what she describes as their failure to adequately protect female students allegedly sexually abused by the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
Her comments follow allegations involving 19 female students at the school, which were brought to public attention through investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, October 24, Ms Manu said the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection should have acted quickly to identify and protect the alleged victims.
She said the authorities needed to ensure the safety of the students, preserve important evidence and take steps to prevent any further abuse while investigations continued.
Ms Manu stressed that although the headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, is entitled to due process and is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the state does not need to wait for a court verdict before putting protective measures in place.
“First of all, Zakaria and whatever due process he’s entitled to is the law. He should experience it, no problem,” she stated.
“Now, protective measures do not require a criminal conviction. I’m saying this because Zakaria does not need to go to court to be found guilty before the state, from GES, Ministry of Education, Gender Ministry, for them to trace the victims,” she added.
She argued that the response from state institutions had been inadequate, particularly following the allegations and accounts presented in Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary.
“And this is where I believe the state failed, especially in light of the overwhelming evidence that has been presented in the last week,” she said.
Ms Manu also expressed concern about reports that some individuals had allegedly approached the families of complainants. She called for measures to protect potential witnesses and ensure that relevant evidence was not lost or interfered with.
According to her, the matter should not be treated merely as a political issue, as the safety and well-being of the affected students must come first.
“I’m going to focus on the girls, and it’s important that we do. Because it goes beyond the politics at this point,” she emphasised.
To stress the seriousness of the issue, Ms Manu referred to UNICEF estimates released in 2024, which indicate that more than 370 million girls and women alive today experienced rape or sexual assault before turning 18. This represents approximately one in eight globally.
She noted that the figure increases to about 650 million when other forms of non-contact sexual violence are included.
She also cited estimates that approximately 79 million girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced contact sexual violence during childhood.
Ms Manu said the figures highlight the need for stronger measures to protect children and ensure that allegations of sexual abuse are handled appropriately.
Ms Manu further raised concerns about the relationship between teachers and students, explaining that the authority teachers hold over students can make it difficult for some victims to resist inappropriate demands or report abuse.
She said some students might fear punishment, poor academic treatment or other consequences if they refuse a teacher’s advances.
“What does this tell you? It tells you there is a certain power dynamic as far as the school is concerned,” she said.
She warned that sexual abuse could have lasting effects on victims, including psychological trauma and dropping out of school, especially when they do not receive adequate protection and support.
The former adviser also questioned whether enough attention had been paid to possible allegations involving the headmaster during his previous postings at Juaben, Toase and Nsawam.
She disclosed that a woman who had previously attended school at Juaben had sent her a private message alleging that the headmaster made inappropriate advances towards her and treated her harshly after she rejected them.
“Once he makes advances towards you and you decline, you are dead. He will hit you with passion. He hated me so much, and I hated him back and avoided him like the plague,” Ms Manu quoted the woman as saying.
She further relayed the woman’s claim that the number of potential complainants at Juaben could exceed 100. However, this allegation has not been independently established.
Ms Manu called for the relevant authorities to examine such claims as part of a thorough investigation rather than dismissing them without proper inquiry.
Ms Manu also criticised some media reports on sexual abuse, describing aspects of the coverage as insensitive.
She warned that sensational reporting and the exposure of victims to public scrutiny could discourage survivors and their families from speaking out or seeking justice.
She maintained that the priority should be to protect the students, provide the necessary support to complainants and ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.
She added that these responsibilities must be carried out without political interference while respecting the legal rights of everyone involved in the case.
