New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organiser, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has called for a swift, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High School.
In a statement issued on October 19, 2026, Koomson said she received with shock and sorrow media reports, including an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, concerning alleged sexual misconduct involving the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
According to the reports cited in her statement, approximately 19 female students have recounted alleged incidents of rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of abuse.
Koomson expressed particular concern over claims that some of the incidents were reported to school authorities as far back as March 2026, without meaningful action being taken to protect the students or address their complaints.
She said any failure by school authorities to act, if established, would amount to serious negligence and a breach of their responsibility to safeguard students.
The former minister called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that anyone implicated is subjected to the appropriate legal processes where sufficient evidence exists.
“ A child knows no political party colours. We must never subordinate the dignity, safety, and protection of our children to partisan considerations,” she stated.
Koomson also urged authorities to protect the identities and safety of the alleged victims and their families amid reports of possible intimidation, victimisation and reprisals.
She appealed to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to work with child protection organisations to provide the affected students with professional counselling, psychological support, medical care and other necessary assistance.
The NPP National Women’s Organiser further called for a comprehensive review of safeguarding policies and reporting procedures in schools to strengthen accountability and prevent sexual abuse and exploitation.
She urged the Vice President, women’s groups, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and religious leaders to support efforts to protect the students and ensure justice.
Koomson stressed that the best interests of the child must remain paramount, in line with the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560).
She concluded that accountability must be pursued without fear or favour, insisting that schools must remain safe environments where students can learn and develop without compromising their dignity or fundamental rights.
