Obuasi SHTS alleged sexual abuse: Kwasi Kwarteng criticises Education Minister over delayed action

Former Education Ministry Public Relations Officer Kwasi Kwarteng has questioned why authorities failed to act earlier on allegations of sexual abuse involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai.

His comments follow a JoyNews investigation by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which reported that complaints about alleged sexual abuse involving the headmaster had reached education officials and other authorities months before the Education Ministry ordered his suspension.

The investigation, titled Inside the 'Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow,' examined allegations involving female students, with the number of students who had come forward reportedly rising to 16.

Reacting to this in a social media post on Friday, October 16, Kwarteng questioned the delay in taking action, citing reports of earlier allegations against the headmaster, including claims concerning his previous posting at Toase Senior High School, where he reportedly served as an assistant headmaster before his promotion to Obuasi.

He called on the Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to explain whether the earlier allegations were investigated, who recommended the headmaster’s transfer and promotion, and what became of the warnings allegedly raised.

He also questioned the response to the allegations in comparison with disciplinary action taken against school heads under former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.

The former Education Ministry PRO argued that the latest case appears to have required public exposure before decisive action was taken.

“The Minister and GES Director-General must answer these questions,” Mr Kwarteng said, adding that the responsibility of government is not merely to respond when a scandal became public but to act when concerns were first brought to its attention.

He further expressed surprise at the reported commendation of the Education Minister and GES by Parliament’s Human Rights Committee for acting swiftly to interdict the headmaster.

He questioned whether the response should be considered swift when measured against the period when the allegations were first raised, rather than the date they became widely publicised.

The controversy has also drawn attention to the headmaster’s reported political affiliation.

Manasseh Azure Awuni has identified Mr Abdulai as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency secretary for Juaben and reported that he intends to contest the constituency chairmanship.

Mr Kwarteng stressed that the affiliation alone did not establish political interference but said it made transparent answers from the authorities even more necessary.