The Minority in Parliament has called for an independent inquiry into the handling of earlier complaints in the alleged sexual abuse case involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, who outlined the caucus’s demands, said the inquiry must establish how previous complaints were handled and determine whether there was any political interference in the process.
The caucus is also demanding that officials found responsible for any failures be identified and sanctioned where necessary.
It has further called for a comprehensive investigation into all allegations, urging authorities to ensure that the case is handled transparently and without undue delay.
According to the Minority, the Attorney-General must promptly advise on the docket submitted for consideration, with prosecution pursued wherever the available evidence supports it.
The caucus stressed that the welfare and safety of the affected students must remain a priority throughout the investigation.
It is demanding immediate protection, counselling, medical care and legal assistance for the students, while ensuring that their identities are kept confidential to protect their privacy and prevent further harm.
“Any intimidation or retaliation must be investigated promptly,” she said.
The Minority also wants the responsible ministers to brief Parliament on the sequence of events leading to the case, the actions taken by relevant authorities and the measures being implemented to safeguard students.
It said such a briefing would help clarify how the complaints were addressed and establish whether appropriate procedures were followed by the institutions involved.
Additionally, the caucus is calling for confidential reporting channels in schools to enable students to report abuse without fear of intimidation or victimisation.
It insists that these channels must operate independently of any headteacher facing allegations of abuse to ensure that complaints can be reported and handled without interference.
The Minority said the proposed independent inquiry should examine the handling of earlier complaints, identify any administrative or institutional shortcomings and hold accountable any officials found to have failed in their duties.
It maintained that a thorough and impartial process is necessary to establish the facts, protect the affected students and ensure accountability where wrongdoing is established.
The caucus’s demands come amid calls for stronger safeguards to protect students and ensure that allegations of sexual abuse in educational institutions receive appropriate attention from the relevant authorities.
