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31.03.2012 Education

Headmaster, teacher accused of sexually abusing school girls at Shama

31.03.2012 LISTEN
By myjoyonline

Opinion leaders and concerned residents of Komfueku, a farming community in the Shama District of the Western Region, have written to the Ghana Education Service (GES) demanding the transfer or dismissal of the headmaster of the community's Junior High School for allegedly conniving with a teacher to sexually abuse female students.

Some female students as a result of the harassment are said to have stopped schooling.

According to the Assemblyman for the Komfueku community, Percy Ahinakwah, the reports about the headteacher's harassment of female students have become widespread although his victims have often failed to give evidence because of fear of intimidation.

He however disclosed that some girls have had to stop schooling because of the headmaster's alleged persistent demands for sex. Mr. Ahinakwah told Maxx News they will do everything possible to get the two men transferred or dismissed because according to him, they have become a burden on the community.

According to him, the Headmaster had confirmed that six girls had stopped schooling following the sexual harassment allegations but could not give the identity of the girls when he was asked to do so.

He said they have written to the District Education Directorate demanding the immediate transfer of the two men but are yet to receive a response. He said they will consider their next line of action if their demands are not met.

According to the Assemblyman, the school which hitherto performed well in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.CE) was now underperforming due to such behaviours.

The caretaker Chief of Komfueku Kwaku Essuman has expressed concern about the development and wants the offenders transferred after investigations.

Meanwhile, one of the teachers, accused of the act, Abubakar Mazu, has admitted having sex with one of the girls but says the 15 year old form three student, is his friend and a private student whom he teaches on weekends.

The Headmaster, Francis Abodam Mensah, who is also the Assemblyman for Assorku in the Shama area, will not speak to Maxx News because the matter is before the District Education Directorate.

He has however denied demanding sex from the female students alleging that the Assemblyman, is scheming against him. The Western Regional Director of Education Nii Lante Cleland says the matter has come to his notice and will be investigated accordingly.

In a related development, the Ahanta West District Directorate of Education is questioning two teachers for their alleged involvement in defilement of primary girls at Dixcove. In one of the cases, a 13 year old class six pupil is said to have been impregnated by a JHS teacher who attempted to abort the pregnancy but failed.



Story by Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/Radio Maxx/Takoradi

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