Three parliamentary committees have initiated a joint inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse and other human rights concerns at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), as Parliament steps up efforts to address student welfare and safety in educational institutions.
The Committees on Human Rights; Gender, Children and Social Welfare; and Education convened the engagement to examine the reported incidents and assess the responses of the relevant state institutions.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, alongside the Director-General and other officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES). Also present were the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, and officials from her ministry.
Representatives of the two ministries and the GES briefed the committees on interventions and measures undertaken by their respective institutions following the emergence of the allegations.
A key focus of the inquiry was to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents, determine the extent of the concerns raised and assess the adequacy of measures put in place to protect students.
The committees also stressed the importance of ensuring that students who may have been affected receive appropriate psychosocial assistance, counselling and other necessary support.
They underscored the need for accountability, indicating that appropriate action must be taken where investigations establish that misconduct or violations of students’ rights have occurred.
Beyond the immediate concerns at Obuasi SHTS, the parliamentary engagement highlighted the broader responsibility of educational authorities to strengthen child protection and safeguarding systems across schools.
The committees emphasised that students must have access to reliable and confidential channels through which they can report abuse without fear of intimidation, discrimination, stigmatisation or retaliation.
They further reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity and welfare of children, stressing that schools must provide secure environments in which students can pursue their education free from abuse and other forms of exploitation.
The committees indicated that they would continue to follow developments and engage the relevant institutions to ensure that the concerns raised receive the necessary attention and appropriate action.
The outcome of the inquiry is expected to contribute to efforts to strengthen institutional safeguards and improve the protection of students within Ghana’s educational system.
By 1960news.com
