The Ghana Education Service has interdicted Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School in the Ashanti Region, following allegations of sexual misconduct against students, according to a GES statement dated October 14, 2026.
The alleged abuse reportedly triggered a student rampage that destroyed school property and forced the temporary closure of the school. Abdulai must now hand over management of the school to the Ashanti Regional Director of Education and make himself available to investigators while a full-scale probe runs its course.
What the GES statement says
Management of the Ghana Education Service said Abdulai proceeds on interdiction with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a full-scale investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct involving students at the school. The Service added that a complaint has been lodged with the police, and that it remains committed to protecting students and staff and ensuring teachers uphold professional standards.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu had already directed the GES to suspend Abdulai on Monday, October 12, and requested a police investigation. The Ministry of Education, in a statement signed by its Press Secretary Hashmin Mohammed, said the minister considered the allegations serious and had asked the GES Director-General to act immediately.
Parents and guardians entrust their wards to teachers whose responsibility is to protect and safeguard children, not abuse them, the ministry stressed.
How the allegations surfaced
The case came to public attention through an investigation by JoyNews and investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, GhanaWeb reported. Female students described their alleged experiences inside the headmaster's bungalow in accounts that shocked the country.
One student said Abdulai slapped her after she told him she was menstruating and he attempted to check whether her claim was true.
He pushed me onto the sofa and took off his underwear. When I told him I was menstruating, he put his hand into my pant to check if it was true. When I said no, he slapped me and held my head, so I agreed to do it.
Another student described struggling with the headmaster before he forced her into sexual activity.
We struggled and he took off my shirt to have sex with me. After that, he dragged me into his bedroom and had sex with me again.
Why swift transparency matters for Ghana's schools
This is a painful story, but the response so far shows a system that can move fast when it must. Within days of the JoyNews report, the Education Minister acted, the GES interdicted the headmaster, and the police were brought in. That chain of accountability is exactly what Ghanaians should demand from every public institution.
Investigative journalism did the heavy lifting here. Manasseh Azure Awuni's reporting gave students a voice and forced the state to respond. A media ecosystem that exposes wrongdoing, and a government that acts on it, is the foundation of the transparency Ghana needs to attract investment and retain the confidence of its diaspora.
The challenge now is delivery. An interdiction is a first step, not a conclusion. The students who spoke out deserve a police investigation that is thorough, fast, and protective of their identities. Parents across the country will be watching whether the full-scale inquiry produces real consequences or quietly fades once the headlines move on.
Schools are where Ghana builds its future workforce, the same young talent driving growth in sectors from mining technology to digital innovation. Safeguarding students is not only a moral duty; it is an economic one. No nation can compete globally while its children fear the very institutions meant to lift them up.
The GES has committed to protecting students and staff and upholding professional standards. The Obuasi case will test that commitment, and the outcome will signal to every parent, teacher, and investor whether Ghana's education system enforces the standards it proclaims.
FAQ
Who is Zakaria Abdulai?
Zakaria Abdulai is the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School in the Obuasi Municipality of the Ashanti Region, interdicted by the GES on October 14, 2026, pending an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct involving students.
Why was Obuasi Senior High Technical School temporarily closed?
The school closed temporarily after the allegations triggered a student rampage on campus that destroyed school property and other items, according to the GES statement.
What actions have authorities taken?
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the GES to suspend Abdulai on October 12, 2026, the GES interdicted him with immediate effect, and a complaint has been lodged with the police for a criminal investigation.
