The National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, has called for a swift, thorough, independent and transparent criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High School.
In a statement dated October 19, 2026, Hon. Koomson said she received with profound shock and dismay media reports, including an investigative report by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, concerning allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of the school, Mr. Zakaria Abdulai.
According to the reports, approximately 19 female students have recounted alleged incidents of rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of abuse, with claims that some of the incidents were formally brought to the attention of school authorities as far back as March 2026, yet no meaningful action was taken.
“If established, such failure on the part of the school authorities would constitute a grave negligence of their duty of care and an unacceptable breach of the responsibility entrusted to educational institutions to safeguard the welfare, dignity and fundamental rights of children,” the statement said.
As a mother, teacher and advocate for women and children, Hon. Koomson called on all well-meaning Ghanaians, irrespective of political, religious or social affiliations, to unequivocally condemn all forms of sexual violence against the girl child.
She further called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate, adding that where sufficient evidence is established, prosecutorial authorities must act “without fear, favour or regard to the political affiliation, social standing or institutional position of any person implicated.”
“A child knows no political party colours. We must never subordinate the dignity, safety, and protection of our children to partisan considerations,” she stated.
Hon. Koomson also expressed concern over reports of possible intimidation, victimisation and reprisals against the affected students and their families, and called for measures to guarantee their safety, protect their identities and preserve their dignity.
She urged the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to work with child protection groups to provide the victims and their families with professional counselling, trauma-informed psychological care, medical care and other protective measures.
She said the development raises serious questions about the adequacy of existing safeguarding arrangements and called on the GES to undertake a comprehensive review of its child protection and safeguarding policies, particularly those governing the conduct of teachers, headmasters and school administrators.
“Our girls must feel safe, protected, respected and empowered within the very institutions established to nurture their potential and secure their future. No girl should ever be compelled to sacrifice her dignity, safety or fundamental rights in pursuit of education.”
She made a special appeal to women across the country, particularly the Vice President of the Republic, to take a keen interest in the matter and lend their voices to securing justice.
“This matter transcends political affiliations, institutional loyalties and individual interests. Justice must be pursued without fear or favour. Accountability must know no political boundaries, and the protection of our children must remain a shared national responsibility,” the statement concluded.
