Obuasi headmaster sexual misconduct allegations referred to CID
Headmaster Zakaria Abdulai has been interdicted pending investigations into allegations involving female students. Police will examine possible criminal offences alongside an administrative inquiry by education authorities.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu says he has referred allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School and female students to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Speaking to Citi FM on Monday, October 19, the minister said police would investigate the criminal aspects of the allegations while education authorities pursue an administrative inquiry.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) announced the interdiction of the headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, on October 14 to allow investigations to take place. The allegations have not been established, and his interdiction is a temporary administrative measure pending the outcome of those inquiries.
Mr Iddrisu said the government took allegations of sexual misconduct in schools seriously.
“We have forwarded it to the criminal investigation department to deal with the criminal aspects of it whilst I’ve asked for the suspension of the headmaster without prejudice whilst we look into the merits of the case,” he said.
The referral places the allegations before police for investigation alongside the education authorities’ examination of the headmaster’s conduct.
The allegations reportedly triggered unrest at the school, with students destroying school property. The institution was subsequently closed temporarily.
Beyond the case, Mr Iddrisu said the government was considering stronger regulations governing the conduct of teachers and students.
He said a committee would be established to advise the government and expressed support for giving the GES code of conduct and standards legal backing, referring to Article 11 of the 1992 Constitution.