The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrissu has assured the nation that the alleged sexual abuse of 19 schoolgirls at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) will not be swept under the carpet.

In a press statement in reaction to the scandal exposed by investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, pin his documentary  "Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow" , the Minister described the incident as a scandalization of the nation's conscience.

“The alleged sexual abuse of nineteen schoolgirls by the now interdicted Headmaster of the Obuasi Senior High Technical School won't or can't just be swept under the carpet."

The Minister said the incident offers a golden opportunity for policymakers to address the issue holistically, revealing that institutional records show similar malpractices dating back to 2021.

The Minister disclosed that the Ghana Police Service's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) are leading independent and transparent criminal investigations into the allegations of rape and sexual assault against the former headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.

He assured there will be prosecution without political interference following calls by civil society groups like the Network for Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) that political affiliations should not shield the accused.

The Minister outlined the immediate institutional actions.

“Enforced Interdiction:The Ghana Education Service (GES) interdiction of Mr. Abdulai will remain in place to protect the integrity of investigations and prevent abuse of authority.

“Trauma Informed Support: The 19 affected students and any other potential victims are being given immediate psychological counselling, medical care and academic continuity support.

“Protection For Whistleblowers: Safeguards will be established for students, staff or journalists to report misconduct without fear of reprisal.”

The Minister also commended Manasseh Azure Awuni for exposing the issue.

The Ministry is, therefore, considering broader reforms in Senior High Schools stating “schools to establish confidential reporting channels that bypass headmasters' offices, linking directly to DOVVSU and GES”. 

MTN is also prepared to work with the Ministry to establish a hotline.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Girls' Education Unit is to enforce strict protocols where any suspected power based on teacher-student relationship triggers immediate interdiction and independent review.

Parliament and stakeholders are also to close gaps in supervision of authority figures in schools.

The Minister revealed that Vice President H.E. Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has expressed serious reservations on the matter.

“I wish to give assurance to parents and the Ghanaian public as a whole that our children  their children  are safe in our educational institutions."

He cautioned the public not to stereotype all schools based on the Obuasi incident and not to approach the issue emotionally.

"With a concerted, level headed and firm approach, we'll tackle this unfortunate matter as a government and a nation in order to safeguard the education and well being of our future mothers and leaders."