Obuasi SHS abuse allegations: Number of students rises to 19

The number of students alleging sexual abuse by the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School has increased from 16 to 19, according to JoyNews investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.

Mr Awuni said three more students had reportedly come forward, adding to the cases uncovered during his investigation.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday, October 18, he disclosed that sources at the school had informed him of the latest developments, noting that more cases could emerge because some students had yet to formally report their experiences.

In an earlier interview on Joy FM on Thursday, October 15, about his latest documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, Mr Awuni said the initial information he received concerned five students.

However, the number rose to 14 when he visited the school to investigate. Two additional students subsequently came forward with similar allegations, bringing the total to 16 before the latest three cases were reported.

Mr Awuni described the allegations as particularly disturbing, especially given a similar incident at the school in 2018 involving a senior housemaster who was dismissed.

He recalled that his first visit to Obuasi in 2018 was also prompted by allegations of sexual assault at the same institution.

The journalist explained that after returning from studies abroad, he received a message from a source at the school indicating that the situation had worsened. He was also informed that attempts had been made to contact him while he was away.

According to him, addressing the latest allegations has been more challenging because they involve the headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, who occupies the highest position in the school’s administrative structure.

Mr Awuni also expressed concern that the allegations appeared to be widely known within the Obuasi community, including among members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), despite an apparent reluctance among some people to speak publicly about the matter.

The allegations against Mr Abdulai remain under investigation.