By Gifty Amofa
Accra, Oct. 21, GNA – Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, Minister for the Interior, has assured that the alleged sexual abuse involving female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He said the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, who had been accused of sexual misconduct, had been arrested, adding that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service had taken over the case for further investigations.
The Minister disclosed this when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday.
He said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tetteh Yohuno, had directed that the case be treated with urgency, with Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor tasked with ensuring that it received the necessary attention.
Alhaji Mubarak said permission had to be obtained from the court to conduct a DNA test on a semen sample allegedly found on the dress of one of the victims.
His comments followed a call by Madam Abena Osei-Asare, Co-Chairperson of the PAC, for the Ministry to ensure the swift delivery of justice.
She described the case as sensitive and said it must be handled with the seriousness it deserved.
Madam Osei-Asare, who is also the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, said the allegations had disappointed women on the Committee and called for decisive action to protect the students and ensure accountability.
“How long has the matter taken? There is evidence to the allegations made. We have not been fair to the young girls. Let’s do the needful; don’t fail the young ladies and society,” she said.
She further alleged that the headmaster had sought to contest for the chairmanship of the Juaben Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) until public pressure mounted over the case.
Abdulai is facing allegations of sexual misconduct involving 19 female students of the school, where he served as headmaster.
He has since resigned as NDC Secretary for the Juaben Constituency and withdrawn his intention to contest for the constituency chairmanship.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe