National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mavis Hawa Koomson has called for a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students of Obuasi Senior High School.

The allegations concern the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, and reportedly include rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of abuse.

In a statement dated October 19, 2026, Madam Koomson said media reports, including an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, had brought the allegations to public attention.

She said reports indicated that some of the alleged incidents were brought to the attention of school authorities as far back as March 2026, but “no meaningful action was taken” to protect the affected students or address their complaints.

“If established, such failure on the part of the school authorities would constitute a grave negligence of their duty of care,” she said.

Madam Koomson called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct a “swift, thorough, independent and transparent criminal investigation” into the allegations.

She said where sufficient evidence was established, the appropriate prosecutorial authorities should pursue the necessary legal processes “without fear, favour or regard to the political affiliation, social standing or institutional position of any person implicated.”

“A child knows no political party colours. We must never subordinate the dignity, safety, and protection of our children to partisan considerations,” she said.

She also expressed concern about reports of possible intimidation, victimisation and reprisals against the affected students and their families.

She called for measures to protect the students’ identities and safety throughout any investigative and judicial processes.

Madam Koomson further urged the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to work with child protection and support groups to provide the affected students and their families with professional counselling, trauma-informed psychological care, medical care and other protective measures.

She said the best interests of the child must remain the paramount consideration in all actions arising from the matter, in line with the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560).

The former minister also called for a review of safeguarding policies within Ghana’s educational institutions.

She said the allegations raised questions about the adequacy of existing safeguarding arrangements, reporting procedures, supervisory responsibilities and accountability mechanisms in schools.

“It is therefore imperative that the Ghana Education Service uses this opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of its child protection and safeguarding policies,” she said.

Madam Koomson also appealed to women across the country, particularly the Vice President, to take an interest in the matter and support efforts to secure justice for the affected students and strengthen safeguards for girls in educational institutions.

She stressed that the matter should be treated beyond political affiliations and institutional interests.

“Justice must be pursued without fear or favour. Accountability must know no political boundaries, and the protection of our children must remain a shared national responsibility,” she said.