Story Highlights
- The National Democratic Congress has cleared Zakaria Abdulai, its Juaben constituency secretary, to contest for constituency chairman. Days earlier, it had told him to withdraw or face disqualification.
- Mr. Abdulai is the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School. A JoyNews documentary alleges he sexually abused 14 female students.
- Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande said the clearance is not an exoneration and the party could still remove him later.
- NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba has condemned the decision.
Disclaimer: This story has reports and descriptions of sexual misconduct against minors
Zakaria Abdulai, popularly known as “Paapaa,” serves as the NDC’s Juaben constituency secretary. He is seeking the constituency chairmanship in the party’s internal elections.
Last week, the party ordered him out of the race. Deputy National Communications Director Julius Kwame Anthony said the instruction was to withdraw or be disqualified, and that it had been clearly communicated to Abdulai. He said the decision was driven by ongoing investigations involving law enforcement agencies.
On Monday, October 19, the party reversed course. Mr. Gbande told JoyNews that Abdulai had appeared before the Functional Executive Committee to answer the allegations, which the leadership considers serious. Asked whether Mr. Abdulai could now file and contest, Mr. Gbande replied: “He can now file and proceed.”
Mr. Gbande said the committee reconsidered after noting the processes already underway, including the ministerial directive and the GES investigation. He said the party’s decision was informed by the need to protect the aspirant’s rights.
Mr. Abdulai also told the committee he had issued writs against some individuals connected to the matter. Mr. Gbande said he was unsure whether the suits concerned defamation.
“Not an Exoneration”
Mr. Gbande said the clearance does not clear Abdulai of the allegations. He said the party could act before the investigations end if sufficient findings point to guilt.
He added that Mr. Abdulai could be removed from office even if he wins the race, depending on the outcome of the investigations.
Backlash
NAGRAT President Jacob Anaba criticised the NDC for allowing an interdicted headmaster to contest amid allegations of sexual abuse of students. The NAGRAT president has also said that 38 teachers were told to leave the school for criticising the headmaster.
Before the reversal, others had called on the party to block Mr. Abdulai’s candidacy. They included broadcaster Vicky Bright, a former NDC MP and governance advocate Kojo Asante. Mr. Asante also called for a taskforce to review how schools handle sexual abuse cases.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has backed Mr. Abdulai’s interdiction.
The Allegations
The allegations are the subject of Manasseh Azure Awuni’s JoyNews documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which alleges sexual harassment, assault and rape of female students. Azure Awuni has said 14 students were abused over the past year.
According to Azure Awuni, five girls reported alleged assaults to the Municipal Education Directorate in March 2026. The investigation stalled after the director fell ill. Another incident was allegedly reported in June, and a student reportedly reported being raped in July. Teachers responsible for safeguarding had written several letters and petitions.
Police say a 20-year-old Form Two student, accompanied by her father, filed a complaint with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Obuasi on August 4, 2026.
The next day, students rioted after finding an infant’s body buried on campus. They attacked the headmaster, and the school was closed.
On October 13, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the GES to suspend Abdulai and asked the police CID to investigate. Abdulai declined to comment when contacted for the documentary, citing ongoing police and GES investigations.
The Wider Picture: Sexual Abuse in Ghana
The case sits within a broader problem.
- National prevalence. A 2025 study using Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection data on 522 children aged 8 to 17 found that 23.9 percent had experienced sexual abuse. Adults were the main perpetrators, in 56.8 percent of cases.
- Abuse in schools. A 2018 survey of 490 pupils across 49 public schools found that about 11.2 percent had been victims of rape or defilement. Ninety-two percent of victims were girls. The authors concluded that the child protection system was ineffective.
- Few cases reach police. A DOVVSU-cited study found that only 15.7 percent of respondents said a perpetrator in a school case was handed to law enforcement. A majority, 52.7 percent, rated school authorities’ response as unsatisfactory.
- Recent pressure. In October 2025, the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) called for a commission of inquiry into sexual misconduct in senior high schools, describing it as a national crisis.
Timeline
- March 2026: Five girls report alleged assaults to the Municipal Education Directorate. The inquiry stalls.
- June–July 2026: Further incidents are allegedly reported, including a rape complaint.
- August 4, 2026: A Form Two student files a complaint with DOVVSU in Obuasi.
- August 5, 2026: Students riot after an infant’s body is found on campus. The headmaster is attacked and the school is closed.
- October 13, 2026: The documentary airs. The minister orders Abdulai’s suspension and a CID probe.
- Mid-October 2026: The NDC orders Abdulai to withdraw from the Juaben race or face disqualification.
- October 19, 2026: The NDC reverses its order and clears him to file and contest.
Mr. Abdulai has not been charged and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
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