'Very distasteful’ – Selorm Branttie blasts NDC for clearing Obuasi SHTS headmaster to contest constituency elections 

Vice President for Innovation and Technology at IMANI Africa, Selorm Branttie, has criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for allowing embattled Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) headmaster Zakaria Abdulai to contest the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship while sexual abuse allegations against him remain under investigation.

The controversy follows an investigative report by JoyNews journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse against female students at the school.

The number of students who have reportedly come forward with allegations has risen to 19, according to the journalist.

The allegations include rape, sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct.

The NDC has reversed its earlier directive ordering Mr Abdulai to withdraw from the contest or risk disqualification.

The party’s Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, confirmed on Monday, October 19, that the decision had been reversed after Mr Abdulai appeared before the party’s Functional Executive Committee to present his side of the matter.

Mr Gbande said the headmaster could proceed with his chairmanship bid while investigations continued, but noted that winning the election would not shield him from possible disciplinary action if the allegations were substantiated.

Reacting to this, Branttie described the party’s decision as distasteful, questioning why it would allow the headmaster to participate in its internal elections despite the serious allegations involving female students.

“Very distasteful from the NDC. Any decent person would have resigned, much less the party wasting paper and ink on this baloney,” he said.

The policy analyst also questioned whether the headmaster would have received the same treatment if the alleged victim had been related to a powerful person.

“If a ‘big man’s’ daughter was touched by this man, or it was even remotely alleged, would he have received this ‘VIP’ treatment he is receiving now?” he asked.

He further expressed concern about the safety of female students in schools, arguing that the handling of the allegations could undermine public confidence in institutions entrusted with protecting children.