NDC tells suspended Obuasi headmaster to quit chairmanship race or face disqualification
Zakaria Abdulai is seeking the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship while facing investigations into alleged sexual abuse involving female students. The NDC says its national leadership has instructed him to withdraw.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has ordered the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Zakaria Abdulai, to withdraw from its Juaben constituency chairmanship race or face disqualification.
The party’s Deputy National Communications Director, Julius Anthony, said the directive followed ongoing law enforcement investigations into allegations against Mr Abdulai.
Mr Abdulai, who also serves as the NDC’s Juaben constituency secretary, faces allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape involving female students. The allegations remain under investigation.
“The party has directed: withdraw your attempts to contest for the chairmanship or be disqualified. That is the party’s position, well communicated to the headmaster,” Mr Anthony said on JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday.
He said the party’s national leadership had communicated its decision to Mr Abdulai.
“Our rationale is simple: this person is currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies who essentially report to our government,” he said.
The announcement follows a JoyNews investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni into the allegations and the handling of complaints against the headmaster.
The documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, reported that students, parents and teachers had submitted complaints to school management, education officials and other authorities before his suspension.
It also raised questions about delays in investigating the complaints and alleged interventions by influential figures.
On October 13, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to suspend Mr Abdulai pending a full investigation. He also requested an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters.
When approached during the documentary investigation, Mr Abdulai declined to comment on the allegations, citing ongoing police and GES inquiries.
The party’s directive concerns his bid for the constituency chairmanship. Mr Anthony’s remarks did not set out any decision on Mr Abdulai’s existing position as constituency secretary.