KEY POINTS

• Opoku Mensah questions the Ashanti Regional Minister’s handling of the school scandal.

• He alleges that municipal officials failed to escalate earlier complaints.

• The headmaster has been interdicted as investigations into the allegations continue.

Former Education Ministry spokesperson Yaw Opoku Mensah has questioned the Ashanti Regional Minister’s handling of the alleged sexual abuse scandal at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), accusing him of failing to escalate the matter to the Education Minister despite earlier warnings.

Mensah alleged that the regional and municipal authorities failed to respond adequately to complaints about developments at the school, raising concerns about possible administrative failures and political interference. The allegations have not been independently established, and investigations into the case remain ongoing.

Regional Minister Accused of Failing to Escalate Complaints

Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Forum programme on Saturday, October 24, Mensah said established administrative procedures required regional ministers to brief the Education Minister promptly when serious incidents occurred at senior high schools.

He argued that early communication would have allowed the ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to coordinate an investigation and take appropriate action.

Mensah cited a petition dated July 27, 2026, reportedly submitted by the school’s old students to the Education Minister, the GES Director-General, the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Ghana Police Service.

The petition raised concerns about developments at the school, which is popularly known as O’ SEC TEC.

According to Mensah, the handling of the matter raised questions about whether the relevant authorities had followed established procedures for addressing serious allegations at educational institutions.

Staff Transfers and Violence Raise Further Questions

Mensah also questioned the authorities’ response to reports of a violent incident at the school involving the police, property destruction and assaults on the headmaster and some staff members.

He further referred to the reported transfer of more than 30 staff members, questioning whether the developments had received adequate scrutiny from the relevant authorities.

The former spokesperson alleged that political considerations might have influenced the handling of the case because the headmaster at the centre of the allegations was a prominent member and executive of a political party.

He suggested that the interests of the institution might have been compromised in favour of an individual. However, his claims about political interference remain allegations and have not been independently verified.

Municipal Authorities Also Come Under Criticism

Mensah extended his criticism to officials in the Obuasi municipality, alleging that complaints about the school were not properly escalated.

He referred to comments by the municipal chief executive indicating that complaints had reached her office. According to Mensah, the matter was referred to the Municipal Director of Education, but he alleged that the director failed to report it to higher authorities.

Mensah maintained that both officials had been copied in the July 27 petition from the school’s old students.

He questioned why the officials had remained in their positions despite the concerns raised, arguing that the handling of the complaints required closer examination.

The allegations concerning the officials’ conduct have not been established through an independent investigation.

Kumasi Mayor’s Meetings Questioned

Mensah also criticised Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive Richard Ofori Agyemang-Boadi over alleged meetings with the headmaster and other school officials concerning the matter.

He questioned the purpose of the meetings and whether they were intended to resolve the allegations informally rather than refer them to the appropriate authorities.

Mensah suggested that the meetings could raise legal concerns, including possible abetment, but did not establish that any offence had been committed.

Whether the meetings were intended to address the allegations, provide guidance or serve another purpose would require further clarification from the officials involved.

Headmaster Interdicted as Allegations Remain Under Investigation

The controversy centres on allegations of sexual abuse involving Obuasi SHTS headmaster Zakaria Abdulai.

The allegations have triggered public concern and calls for accountability, with Abdulai subsequently interdicted as investigations into the case continue.

The case has also prompted renewed discussions about child protection, the handling of sexual misconduct complaints in schools and the responsibilities of education officials and local authorities.

The outcome of the investigations will be important in determining the facts of the case and whether any individuals or institutions failed to fulfil their legal or administrative responsibilities.