Youth Bridge Foundation calls for justice, student protection in Obuasi SHTS abuse case

The Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) has called for justice, accountability and stronger safeguards for students following allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

In a statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, the youth-focused non-governmental organisation said the allegations raised serious concerns about student safety and the responsibility of school authorities to protect those in their care.

“While the allegations remain subject to investigation, their nature raises serious concerns about the safety and protection of students within an institution entrusted with their care and education,” the statement said.

The foundation said it was also concerned by reports that complaints about alleged sexual misconduct had been brought to the attention of school authorities and other public officials before the case gained wider attention.

“If established, any failure to respond appropriately to these complaints would represent a serious breach of the duty to protect students entrusted to their care,” YBF stated.

It said the case raised questions not only about the alleged conduct of an individual but also about whether existing systems for reporting and responding to abuse were functioning effectively.

The foundation called for scrutiny of how earlier complaints were handled and whether officials who received information about the allegations discharged their responsibilities appropriately.

YBF urged the relevant authorities to ensure a full and impartial investigation and that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law.

It also called for psychosocial and emotional support for affected students, alongside measures to protect their safety and ensure they can continue their education without intimidation or retaliation.

“Girls who have come forward must not face intimidation, stigmatisation, retaliation or further disruption to their education because they reported alleged abuse,” the statement said.

“Their right to education, emotional well-being and personal safety must be protected throughout the investigation and beyond.”

The foundation further urged authorities to strengthen safeguarding systems across schools to ensure complaints of abuse are addressed promptly and appropriately.

The foundation cited the 1992 Constitution, the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and Ghana’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

“These legal protections must translate into action,” it said.

YBF stressed that the response to the allegations should extend beyond investigating the alleged perpetrator to examining possible institutional failures and strengthening systems designed to protect students.

It said the case should prompt a broader commitment to ensuring that schools across Ghana provide safe environments for learning.

“Students must know that their voices matter, that their complaints will be taken seriously and that the systems responsible for their protection will act when they are at risk,” the statement added.

The foundation expressed solidarity with the affected students and their families, reiterating its commitment to promoting accountability and educational environments free from violence, abuse and exploitation.

The allegations at Obuasi SHTS have drawn national attention, with the number of students reportedly alleging abuse rising to 16.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside pending investigations into the matter.

The school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, remains interdicted, while the Education Ministry has directed the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the allegations.

The allegations have not been established and remain subject to investigation.