A teacher at Ekumpoano Catholic Basic School, Stephen Desu, has raised concerns about alleged transactional sexual relationships between teachers and female students, claiming that some girls seek money from teachers in exchange for sex, while others may be driven into such arrangements by financial hardship.
He made the claims on JoyNews’ PM Express following an investigative report by JoyNews correspondent Manasseh Azure Awuni into allegations of sexual abuse involving at least 14 students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
Desu said the issue had different dimensions and required attention to the financial pressures students face while in school.
“There are girls in schools who position themselves to sexually exploit teachers for their money whilst teachers get sex from them in a transactional relationship,” he said.
He cited concerns about students’ access to food and money, alleging that some teachers had given female students financial assistance during periods when food provision in schools was a concern, with sex exchanged in return.
“Especially when this food issue came up in our schools, where they’re not getting food. Some teachers stepped up, and they were giving the girls money, and they were exchanging sex for the money they were giving them,” he said.
Desu urged parents to pay closer attention to how their daughters meet their needs while at school, particularly when they receive little financial support from home.
“If you leave your girl child in school and you don’t support her with money and she’s surviving, you as a parent, what makes you think that that child is surviving just because she’s just there?” he asked.
The teacher acknowledged that misconduct could occur within the teaching profession despite its responsibility to protect students.
“I mean, all professions can boast, but the teacher taught them all. So we position ourselves as the noble profession. Unfortunately, if you have more than 300,000 persons in your classroom as teachers, you may get such persons as predators,” he said.
His comments come amid heightened public scrutiny of allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi SHTS. The school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, has been interdicted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and arrested by the police as investigations continue.
The allegations have attracted widespread attention following reports by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, prompting renewed debate about student safety, the handling of sexual misconduct complaints and the responsibility of school authorities to protect students.
While Desu described some relationships as transactional, sexual relationships between teachers and students raise serious safeguarding concerns because of the power imbalance and teachers’ duty of care. Financial vulnerability may also expose students to coercion and exploitation.
The Education Ministry has also directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate the allegations.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed Abdulai to step aside from the Juaben Constituency chairmanship race pending the ongoing process.
Abdulai has said he will devote his attention and resources to clearing his name. He has also resigned as NDC secretary in the Juaben Constituency and withdrawn his candidature for the constituency chairmanship.
