Parliament demands swift prosecution, sexual offenders register over Obuasi SHTS scandal

Parliamentary Select Committees on Human Rights, Gender, Children and Social Welfare, and Education have called for the speedy prosecution of persons implicated in the alleged sexual abuse scandal at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

The committees have also called for the establishment of a national sexual offenders register and an independent reporting mechanism to enable students to report sexual misconduct without going through school authorities.

The demands were contained in a joint statement issued after a meeting with the Ministers for Education and Gender, Children and Social Protection to assess the government's response, the progress of investigations and measures to protect the affected students.

The committees said religious leaders and political institutions must refrain from interfering in the criminal justice process and allow investigations and prosecutions to proceed without obstruction.

"Religious bodies/leaders and Political Institutions should desist from frustrating the criminal justice system and allow the system take its course," the statement said.

The committees further directed the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, to continue providing psychological and medical support to affected students at the state's expense.

They also urged the Ministry of Education to enforce measures against victim-blaming, intimidation and stigmatisation, while ensuring that the identities of the affected students remain protected.

As part of broader efforts to prevent similar incidents, the committees want the Education Ministry to conduct an independent safeguarding audit of boarding and day second-cycle institutions across the country.

The committees have also proposed that teachers receive further training on the Code of Conduct and that the relevant ministries establish a coordinated system to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct in schools.

"Ghana's schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not predatory grounds. The safety, dignity, and future of our children remain non-negotiable," the statement added.

The scandal gained national attention following an investigative report by JoyNews journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled "Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow."

The investigation detailed allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape involving female students and the school's headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.

It also raised concerns about how complaints against the headmaster were handled by school authorities and education officials, with some allegations reportedly dating back months before his interdiction.