The National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, has called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a swift, thorough and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High School.
The call follows media reports, including an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, concerning allegations of rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct involving the school’s headmaster, Mr. Zakaria Abdulai.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, Hawa Koomson expressed shock and deep concern over the allegations, describing them as disturbing and requiring urgent attention from the relevant state institutions.
According to the reports cited in her statement, approximately 19 female students have recounted alleged incidents of sexual abuse.
She also expressed concern over claims that some of the incidents were reported to school authorities as far back as March 2026, but that meaningful action was allegedly not taken to address the complaints or protect the affected students.
Hawa Koomson stressed that, if established, any failure by school authorities to respond appropriately to complaints of sexual abuse would raise serious questions about their duty of care and their responsibility to protect students.
She maintained that educational institutions must provide environments where students can pursue their studies without fear of sexual exploitation, harassment or other forms of abuse.
The former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East said the allegations demanded an independent and credible investigation to establish the facts and ensure that appropriate action was taken in accordance with the law.
She urged the CID to investigate the matter thoroughly and transparently, adding that anyone against whom sufficient evidence was established should face the appropriate legal processes.
According to her, the investigation must be conducted without regard to the political affiliation, social standing or institutional position of anyone implicated.
“As a mother, a professional teacher and an advocate for the rights and welfare of women and children, I consider these allegations profoundly troubling,” she stated.
She called on Ghanaians, irrespective of their political, religious or social affiliations, to condemn sexual violence, exploitation, harassment and abuse against girls.
Emphasising the need to separate child protection from partisan politics, Hawa Koomson said the safety and dignity of children must take precedence over political considerations.
“A child knows no political party colours. We must never subordinate the dignity, safety, and protection of our children to partisan considerations,” she stressed.
Hawa Koomson also raised concerns about reports of possible intimidation, victimisation and reprisals against the students and their families.
She called on the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to protect the affected students, safeguard their identities and preserve their dignity throughout the investigative and judicial processes.
She further insisted that students who had come forward to report alleged abuse must be protected against retaliation.
According to her, other potential victims should also be assured of a safe, confidential and supportive environment in which they can report similar experiences without fear.
The NPP Women’s Organiser maintained that protecting complainants was essential to ensuring that the investigation proceeded effectively and that individuals with relevant information could cooperate with investigators without intimidation.
Hawa Koomson called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to work with appropriate child protection organisations and support groups to provide assistance to the affected students and their families.
She said the support should include professional counselling, trauma-informed psychological care, medical attention and other protective services necessary to address the physical and emotional effects of the alleged abuse.
She emphasised that the welfare of the students should remain central to every decision taken in response to the allegations.
Citing the principles underpinning the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), she said the best interests of the child must remain the paramount consideration in all interventions arising from the matter.
She added that the response should extend beyond the investigation itself to ensure that the affected students receive the necessary care and protection throughout the process.
Beyond the immediate allegations, Hawa Koomson said the development raised broader questions about the effectiveness of safeguarding policies, reporting procedures and accountability mechanisms within Ghana’s educational institutions.
She urged the Ghana Education Service to undertake a comprehensive review of its child protection policies, particularly those governing the professional conduct of teachers, headmasters, school administrators and other personnel responsible for supervising students.
According to her, the review should identify weaknesses in existing systems and establish stronger mechanisms for preventing abuse, responding promptly to complaints and holding individuals accountable for misconduct.
She maintained that every school must have reliable and enforceable procedures to protect students from sexual exploitation and ensure that complaints are handled appropriately.
Hawa Koomson further stressed that the responsibility to protect students extended beyond preventing physical harm to safeguarding their psychological and emotional well-being.
“Our girls must feel safe, protected, respected and empowered within the very institutions established to nurture their potential and secure their future,” she stated.
“No girl should ever be compelled to sacrifice her dignity, safety or fundamental rights in pursuit of education.”
The NPP National Women’s Organiser also appealed to women across the country, particularly the Vice President of the Republic, to take a keen and sustained interest in the matter.
She urged women leaders to use their voices and institutional influence to support efforts aimed at securing justice for the affected students and strengthening protections for girls in educational institutions.
She further called on civil society organisations, child protection advocates, traditional leaders, religious leaders and the general public to support an independent and credible investigative process.
According to her, the matter transcends political affiliations, institutional loyalties and individual interests, making it a shared national responsibility.
She argued that the response to the allegations should demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children, upholding the rule of law and ensuring that schools remain safe environments for learning and personal development.
Hawa Koomson concluded by urging all relevant institutions to prioritise the welfare of the affected students while ensuring that the allegations were properly investigated.
She maintained that justice must be pursued without fear or favour and that accountability should not be influenced by political considerations.
The allegations have brought renewed attention to the responsibility of educational authorities to establish effective reporting systems, respond appropriately to complaints and protect students from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The outcome of the investigation will be important in establishing the facts surrounding the allegations and determining whether any criminal or administrative action is warranted.
The allegations against the headmaster remain subject to investigation, and any determination of criminal responsibility must follow due process.
By 1960news.com
