Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has assured that the 19 students affected by reported sexual abuse concerns at the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) will receive trauma-informed support.

“We will get trauma-informed support for victims, including the 19 affected students,” Mr Iddrisu said, during a presser.

He said the government would also strengthen measures to protect students and provide safe channels for reporting abuse.

“Schools are to establish confidential reporting channels that bypass headmasters' offices, linking directly to independent bodies including DOVVSU and GES,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the Ministry of Education was also engaging telecommunications company MTN to establish a hotline to facilitate the reporting of such cases.

“We are in touch with MTN to establish a hotline with the Ministry of Education to facilitate open reportage of these matters for us to assist with investigation and deal ruthlessly and decisively with those who abuse our students,” he said.

He further announced plans by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Girls Education Unit to introduce stricter reporting measures for suspected abuse involving teachers and students.

According to the Minister, any suspected power-based or teacher-student relationship would trigger immediate suspension and an independent review.

“The teacher is in a position of power and the student is a helpless person. We will protect every student from those abuses,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu also said the government would strengthen its policies and legal framework on the protection of students, including pursuing legislative changes where necessary.

His comments follow concerns over allegations involving former Obuasi SHTS headmaster and politician Zakaria Abdulai and students of the school.

The minister also assured that political affiliation would not influence the handling of allegations against accused persons.

Mr Abdulai was recently competing for a chairmanship position in the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Obuasi. He has dropped out fo the race since the allegations were made against him.

The Education Minister commended journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni for bringing the matter to public attention through his publication, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow.

“We will work to protect whistleblowers and safeguard them, including journalists, including Manasseh Azure Awuni, and many others,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the measures were intended to strengthen student protection and ensure that concerns about abuse could be reported and investigated through appropriate channels.