The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has deployed a team to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to provide psychosocial and social welfare support to students affected by alleged sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
The team, deployed on Wednesday, October 21, is expected to assess the students’ immediate and long-term protection, health and welfare needs and facilitate appropriate support services.
The intervention follows allegations of sexual abuse involving the school's headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, brought to public attention through an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
“The Ministry recognises that the consequences of sexual abuse can extend far beyond the immediate incident, with potentially lasting effects on the emotional and psychological well-being, educational development, self-confidence and future prospects of affected children,” the Ministry said in a statement issued on Friday, October 23.
The advance team comprises officers from the Department of Social Welfare, the Domestic Violence Secretariat and the Department of Children.
As part of its assignment, the team is engaging affected students and their families, as well as education authorities and other regional and district stakeholders, to identify gaps in available support services and coordinate interventions.
The Ministry said it would facilitate referrals to health facilities and specialised mental health and psychosocial support services where necessary.
It added that any medical assessments would be conducted by qualified health professionals in line with consent, confidentiality and child safeguarding requirements.
The Ministry also stressed the need to protect the identities and privacy of the affected students, urging the public to refrain from actions or commentary that could expose them to further harm.
“The Ministry reiterates its unequivocal position that sexual abuse, exploitation and all forms of violence against children are unacceptable and must not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the statement added.
Beyond the immediate support, the Ministry said it would work with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Police Service and other stakeholders to strengthen child protection, safeguarding and abuse-reporting mechanisms in schools.
It also urged school authorities, teachers, parents and members of the public to take allegations of abuse seriously and report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.
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