Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei has demanded immediate action against the interdicted headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), questioning reports that he had been arrested and accusing unnamed individuals of helping to conceal alleged sexual abuse.
Speaking on The Big Bulletin on Asaase Radio on Wednesday, 21 October, the Asokwa MP said authorities must ensure accountability over allegations involving female students and impose appropriate punishment if the offences are proven.
“He needs to be brought to the books and the right punishment instituted because he raped 19 people, 19 girls being abused and under some circumstances even they are tortured, why are we not doing anything,” Appiagyei said.
Her remarks came amid public scrutiny of the handling of allegations against Zakaria Abdulai, who was interdicted as headmaster following a JoyNews investigative documentary alleging sexual harassment and assault involving female students.
Appiagyei said public pressure had also been necessary to prevent Abdulai from pursuing a political position while the allegations were under investigation. The MP expressed disappointment over information presented to Parliament about the case, saying she had expected firmer action from the authorities.
“We were made to understand that the person had been brought to, even they were going to encourage that guy to stand as a chairman of a particular constituency, not until there was a hue and cry from us, then they stopped him from even venturing to stand as a chairman,” she said.
“I was expecting a strict action but got disappointed this morning when it came to light that the idea that the person has been picked was a fluke,” she said.
“We can’t joke with the lives of our future leaders, so it is important that we are calling, and we are demanding an immediate action against the Abdulai man,” she added.
Appiagyei rejected suggestions that her position was politically motivated, saying she would oppose sexual abuse regardless of the political affiliation of anyone implicated.
“Why not? I am very particular about people who try to have [relations with] such youthful girls… we are not going to give in to anybody, any individual coming from any party in this country who abuse children of this age,” she said.
She argued that inadequate punishment for sexual offences had contributed to their continued occurrence.
“We’ve heard [of these] from time immemorial, but I don’t think the required punishment has been meted out to those who commit such crimes and that’s why it continues,” she stated.
The controversy follows a JoyNews documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni alleging sexual harassment and assault involving at least 19 female students at Obuasi SHTS.
Police in the Ashanti Region have said Abdulai was arrested in connection with one rape complaint filed on 4 August and granted bail, with the docket sent to the Attorney General for advice. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has ordered his interdiction and referred the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department.
