Committee Chairman Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim calls for justice, accountability and stronger safeguards to protect students in educational institutions.
The Parliament of Ghana’s Committee on Human Rights has condemned allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), following an investigation and exposé by Joy News. The Committee says the allegations raise serious concerns about student safety, child protection and the professional conduct expected of school authorities.
In a press release dated Thursday, 15 October 2026, and signed by the Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim, Member of Parliament for Kumawu, the Committee expressed concern over the reported incidents and stressed the need to protect students from sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation within educational institutions.
The Committee stated that the alleged conduct, if established, would violate Ghana’s child protection laws and international obligations, including relevant provisions of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), and Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It emphasised that every child deserves a safe learning environment where their dignity, rights and welfare are protected.
The Committee commended the Minister of Education and the Ghana Education Service for their response to the allegations, including the reported interdiction of the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, and the suspension of another housemaster, as well as the initiation of a police investigation. It stressed that the investigation must establish the facts and that appropriate action should follow in accordance with the law.
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. It reminded educators and school administrators of their responsibility to safeguard students and protect their fundamental right to education in an environment free from abuse, intimidation and exploitation.
Calling for accountability, the Committee appealed to the justice system to expedite the investigation and prosecution of the case. It further called for the maximum lawful sentence if the accused is found guilty, stressing that accountability and appropriate penalties are important in deterring sexual abuse and preventing similar incidents in the future.
The Committee assured the public that it would continue to exercise its parliamentary oversight mandate by monitoring the investigation and prosecution. It also expressed hope that the case would prompt a review of relevant policies and child protection measures to strengthen safeguards for students in educational institutions nationwide.
The statement reinforces the need for collective responsibility among government agencies, school authorities, educators, parents and the justice system to protect children. Every student deserves safety, dignity and justice—and every educational institution must remain a place of learning, not abuse.
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