Obuasi:SOS Children's Villages Ghana has urged the government to provide essential medical, counselling, and educational assistance to students allegedly abused by Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
According to Ghana Web, the call for support follows allegations that at least 14 female students were victims of abuse, with reports suggesting the number could be as high as 19.
In a statement dated October 19, 2026, SOS Children's Villages Ghana emphasized the necessity for trauma-informed medical and psychosocial care for the affected students, highlighting that each girl requires ongoing support rather than a single counselling session. The organization referenced Article 39 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates state responsibility for the recovery of child victims' physical and psychological health.
The organization praised the Minister of Education for suspending the headmaster and involving the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service but expressed concerns over delays in taking action despite previous complaints made to the school and education authorities.
It stated, "When children speak up, and the adults around them do not act, the harm is doubled. There is the abuse itself, and then the lesson that telling does not help."
SOS Children's Villages Ghana also called for a sensitive approach from the police in handling the investigation, advocating for a child-friendly process involving trained officers, safe environments, and minimal repetition of interviews. It stressed the importance of promptly collecting and preserving evidence provided by students.
The organization further urged Parliament to advocate for stronger child protection policies in pre-tertiary educational institutions.