A civic advocacy group in the Ashanti Region has appealed to the Adansihene, Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II, to intervene in the crisis at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), calling for the school to reopen and a review of the reported transfer of 38 teachers.
The Concerned Citizens of Adansi made the demands in a petition dated October 20, raising concerns about the impact of the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct involving the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
The group called for an impartial investigation into the allegations and the administrative decisions taken in response to them. It also urged authorities to protect teachers who raised concerns about the handling of the case.
The controversy gained wider public attention following an investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which reported that complaints had been made to education officials and other authorities months before Abdulai was suspended.
Abdulai has denied wrongdoing and said he intends to use lawful means to clear his name. He remains interdicted as investigations continue.
The petition follows claims by National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) president Jacob Anaba that 38 teachers were asked to leave the school after speaking out about the handling of the allegations.
Anaba said the directive was reportedly communicated through the school’s assistant headmaster after the work of a fact-finding committee.
The Concerned Citizens of Adansi said the reported transfers raised questions about administrative accountability and the possibility of victimisation. However, the group acknowledged that the status of the directive and the reasons behind it needed official clarification.
“The displacement of teachers must not become a substitute for establishing the truth, nor should innocent educators suffer professional consequences for raising legitimate concerns,” the petition stated.
Group raises concerns over school closure
Beyond the reported transfers, the group called for the immediate reopening of Obuasi SHTS, warning that the disruption to academic activities was affecting students who had been left at home without a clear date for their return.
It expressed particular concern about Form Two and Form Three students, especially those preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to the petitioners, the loss of classroom time could undermine students’ preparation for their examinations and affect their academic progress.
“Our children must not become collateral victims of an administrative crisis,” the group said, urging authorities to establish a clear reopening timeline and introduce measures to help students recover lost academic time.
The group asked the Adansihene to engage the Minister of Education and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to seek a review of the reported transfers, subject to verification and the applicable administrative procedures.
Call for impartial investigation
The petitioners also want a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations involving the school’s administration and the circumstances surrounding the reported transfer directive.
They said the inquiry should establish why the directive was issued, identify the officials responsible and determine whether the appropriate administrative procedures were followed.
The group further called for teachers, students and other relevant persons to be protected against unjustified victimisation. It insisted that the matter should be handled without partisan political interference.
The developments come after the GES directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi East Municipal Director of Education, Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside while investigations continue.
The Service said the decision was intended to prevent interference, or the perception of interference, in the process.
The GES has also maintained that Abdulai remains interdicted, rejecting reports that he had been cleared of the allegations.
Appeal to traditional authority
The petition was signed by the group’s president, Anthony Coffie, vice-president Samuel Kofi Koduah and general secretary Mohammed Rahman. Copies were sent to the Minister of Education and the Director-General of the GES.
The Concerned Citizens of Adansi appealed to the Adansihene to use his traditional authority to help resolve the crisis, safeguard students’ education and ensure that the allegations and administrative decisions are properly examined.
The group maintains that establishing the facts and protecting students’ academic futures should remain central to the response, while any concerns about the treatment of teachers must also be addressed through a fair and transparent process.
