'I wan clear my name' - Ghana headmaster withdraw from election afta alleged sexual abuse of school girls

Di headmaster for di Obuasi Senior High Technical School for di Ashanti Region of Ghana don dey face criminal investigations.

Dis na afta im chop accuse of alleged sexual abuse up to 19 girls for im school ova di last two years.

Inside one investigative documentary by local media JoyNews, some victims bin share dia story about how di headmaster oga Zakaria Abdulai allegedly take advantage of dem.

Some of di girls tok how di headmaster bin allegedly force dem to sleep wit him and do oda "inappropriate tins" for im bungalow for campus.

Di documentary also bin show di account of parents, guardians and some teachers for di school wey tok say dem bin report di mata wey dem even file many petitions against di headmaster but nothing happun.

For August dis year, students for di school bin cause riot wey dem attack di headmaster.

Dem accuse am say im dey engage for rituals afta dem find dead baby wey dem bin allegedly bury inside bush for di school campus.

Di angry students injure di headmaster wey dem bin damage im bungalow and oda school property dat day.

Di students at dat time for 5 August also accuse Zakaria Abdulai of sexual misconduct.

Local authorities bin step in wey dem shutdown di school afta di riot, wey dem begin to chook eye for di kasala.

Di Ashanti Regional committee of di Ghana Education Service (GES) bin recommend say make dem repost di underfire headmaster to anoda school to bring peace.

Dem also recommend reposting for di oda staff wey dey involved for di kasala.

But even bifor dem go take decision on top dis case, di wahala about oga Zakaria Abdulai sexual misconduct allegations bin comot.

Ghana Education Service interdict di headmaster and odas

For 14 October 2026, di Ghana Education Service interdict di headmaster wey dem open full-scale investigation.

"We don ask Zakaria Abdulai to proceed on interdiction wit immediate effect; we dey ask say im gatz make im serf available to assist wit investigation."

Di education service add inside dia statement say "im gatz hand ova di management of di school to di Regional director of education."

"We don lodge complaint for di police wey management bin dey assure say we go safeguard di safety of students and staff wey we go uphold di highest standard of professional conduct," tok-tok pesin Daniel Fenyi add.

Di Ghana Education Service also bin ask di Ashanti Regional Director of Education to step aside.

For one 20 October letter, di GES say "di Ashanti regional director Dr William Amankrah Appiah and Obuasi Municipal Director of Education Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah gatz step aside wit immediate effect."

"Dis decision dey intended to ensure say investigation proceed without interference or di perception of interference."

"Di headmaster also still bin dey for interdiction, make everybody ignore fake news say im dey cleared."

Even as im dey for interdiction, Zakaria Abdulai bin dey stand for political office for di New Juaben constituency on top di ticket of di govment National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.

Ghanaians react afta party clear Zakaria Abdulai to contest election

Despite di ogbonge allegations of sexual misconduct against di headmaster Zakaria Abdulai, im still bin dey hold political office as New Juaben constituency secretary of di NDC.

Im decide say im go run for party chairman for di constituency.

Di govment party NDC for 19 October clear di interdicted headmaster to contest di constituency elections.

"We don consider di allegations, di Ghana Education Service report for di case and di police investigation wey we don gree say Zakaria Abdulai fit go ahead to contest for constituency chairman," di NDC party tok-tok pesin Fiifi Kwetey tok inside dia statement.

Dem bin add say "dis decision no dey mean say we don determine di merit of di allegations; dat one na di work of di police."

Ghanaians begin drag di govment party; child rights groups, civil society organisations and oda pipo chook mouth to put pressure on top di NDC to do beta.

Child Rights International bin describe di developments as "unacceptable".

Di organisation bin demand proper child protection for schools across di kontri, wia Amnesty International bin ask for "independent, survivor-centred criminal investigation."

"Di way we bin dey normalise sexual harassment for dis kontri dey deeply disturbing," one presenter Sarah Amelley Djosu tok.

Actress Lydia Forson also tok say di allegations against di Obuasi headmaster dey worry belle.

"Wetin dey vex me about dis case na di plenty complaints wey dem make to authorities long ago; parents, teachers, victims bin complain but na dis investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni wey cause authorities to now begin to take action."

NDC make U-turn, ask underfire headmaster to step aside

Day afta dis decision and di public backlash, di party decide to do U-turn.

Party tok-tok pipo on top media platforms on Monday bin dey justify dia decision to allow di interdicted headmaster contest for party position.

Dem explain say im dey innocent until proven guilty, wey dia party rules bin dey tok say pipo gatz go ahead and contest for positions even if dem dey face allegations.

Sabi pipo react say dat no be di right tin.

"Presumption of innocence for criminal proceedings no mean say institutions gatz fold dia arms when serious allegations bin dey investigated," Professor Kwaku Azar bin tok.

Im add say "as investigations dey continue, di interest of di students, di integrity of di investigative process and public confidence dey also matter."

Na so di NDC inside one statement tok say "afta further consideration, di party don order say make Zakaria Abdulai step aside."

"Dis na sake of transparency and accountability to allow police CID investigation to go on without hindrance."

Di party add for dia 20 October statement say "dis decision na in good faith, no be to determine di merit of di allegations against oga Zakaria Abdulai, wey dey remain innocent until odawise."

Oga Zakaria Abdulai resign from position afta party decision

Afta di National Democratic Congress (NDC) ask am to step aside, oga Zakaria Abdulai bin issue statement.

"I bin write to notify you of my decision to resign from my position as incumbent secretary of di Juaben constituency of di NDC wit immediate effect."

Inside di letter wey im sign, oga Abdulai add say "I also wish to formally withdraw my candidature for di position of constituency chairman for di upcoming NDC elections wit immediate effect."

"At dis time, I don dey devote my attention and resources to pursue lawful means to clear my name and vindicate my position."