Second complainant in Obuasi SHTS headmaster abuse case faces pressure as first withdraws complaint

Police sources in Bekwai confirmed that the first of two former complainants in the alleged sexual abuse case involving Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), has withdrawn her complaint. The second complainant, whose father earlier alleged that a local traditional ruler intervened to push for an out‑of‑court settlement, is now reportedly under similar pressure to abandon her case.

Allegations of community pressure

The father of the second complainant claimed a traditional ruler in the Obuasi area asked the family to settle the matter amicably. The claim has heightened concerns about the ability of students to pursue legal recourse without intimidation.

“In August, while I was at home, I received a visit from four individuals, one of whom was my subject. They explained that their visit concerned a student at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. They said the headmaster's actions had brought disgrace to the school,” said Nana Yaw Anning II, the Bekwai chief.

“I told them that since the matter was already under investigation and they had come to plead on the matter, I would give it further consideration. They agreed and left. However, before leaving, they gave us 200 cedis to buy schnapps,” he added.

The chief’s account confirms that a delegation approached him, but it does not establish that he or the community directly pressured the complainant or her family to withdraw.

Government response

Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said her ministry is coordinating with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Health Service to ensure that proper legal and child‑protection procedures are followed.

“Our intervention is to go back to correct some of those things, and as to pressure being mounted on the girls not to report, I will give you information on that when we find the data speaking to that,” Lartey said.

“But what I can tell you is that some of the protocols that needed to be followed, the ministry is working, especially with DOVVSU and the Ghana Health Service to ensure that they go back to, you know, report appropriately, get to follow the health protocols to ensure screening, get the consent of parents and guardians, so that we'll be able to get the right protocols followed to ensure that the girls are safe,” she added.

Authorities have not confirmed any further withdrawals, and investigations into both the alleged abuse and the reported pressure on the complainants remain ongoing.