The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumawu Constituency and Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim, has called on school authorities, particularly those in Senior High Schools (SHSs), to prioritise the safety, dignity and protection of students rather than subjecting them to abuse and harassment.
His call follows allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), which have attracted public attention following an investigative report by Joy News.
In a press statement dated October 15, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim, condemned the alleged abuse and stressed the need for school authorities and staff to uphold the rights of students and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
The Committee expressed concern over the allegations involving the school’s headteacher and described such conduct, if established, as a serious violation of children’s rights.
According to the statement, the alleged actions contravene Sections 2 and 13 of Ghana’s Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), as well as Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which addresses the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The Committee emphasised that educational institutions should provide safe environments where students can learn, grow and develop without fear of abuse, intimidation or harassment.
It further urged school authorities, management, teaching and non-teaching staff across the country to exercise the highest levels of ethical, moral and professional conduct in the discharge of their duties.
The Human Rights Committee also commended the Minister of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) for their swift response to the allegations.
The statement acknowledged the reported interdiction and suspension of the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, alongside another housemaster, as well as the initiation of a police investigation into the matter.
These actions, the Committee indicated, are important steps towards establishing the facts surrounding the allegations and ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed.
The Committee also called on the justice system to expedite the prosecution of the case. It stated that if the headteacher is found guilty, the appropriate maximum sentence should be applied in accordance with the law.
However, the call for prosecution and punishment must be understood within the framework of due process, with guilt established through the appropriate legal procedures.
Schools Must Be Safe Places for Students
Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim’s statement reinforces the responsibility of school authorities to protect students entrusted to their care.
Parents and guardians send their children to school with the expectation that teachers and other staff will guide, educate and protect them. Any form of abuse or harassment undermines this trust and threatens the wellbeing and academic progress of learners.
The Committee therefore urged educational institutions to strengthen their commitment to child protection and ensure that students’ rights are respected at all times.
School management must also take allegations of abuse seriously, provide safe channels for reporting misconduct and ensure that students who report such incidents are protected from intimidation or retaliation.
The Committee further assured the public that it would exercise its parliamentary oversight responsibilities by monitoring the investigation and prosecution of the case.
It expressed hope that the incident would lead to policy reviews and stronger measures to safeguard children’s rights in educational institutions across the country.
The statement was signed by Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim, Kumawu MP and Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights.
Ultimately, schools must remain places of learning, discipline, mentorship and personal development. Protecting students from abuse and harassment is not optional; it is a fundamental responsibility of every educational institution, Kumawu MP stressed.
