'My side of the story will shock you; I'm waiting for court days' – Obuasi SHTS headmaster on rape allegation

The headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai, says he is awaiting a court date over a rape allegation against him, insisting that he has presented his account of the incident to the committee investigating the matter.

In an interview with Black Rasta, Mr Abdulai said the police had cautioned him following a complaint by a female student and her parents. He added that he had been granted self-recognisance bail and was waiting for the case to proceed to court.

“I have been cautioned because one girl and their parents said, I have raped her. So they reported, I was cautioned, and as a headmaster, I was given self-recognisance bail. I’m waiting for court days,” he said.

Mr Abdulai maintained that his account of the events would offer a different perspective on the allegation, adding that the committee investigating the matter had heard both his version and that of the complainant and her family.

He declined to pass judgment on the complainant's character, saying he did not know her personally.

“If I give you the turn of events for this particular girl who is claiming I have raped her, you’ll be shocked. I don’t know her, but I know she’s given birth. She has a child. She is 20 to 21 years. But I cannot judge her whether she is bad or good. I cannot. But I have my story.”

His comments come amid an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni detailing allegations of sexual abuse involving students at Obuasi SHTS.

So far, 19 girls have reportedly come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Mr Abdulai.