By Kingsley Mamore, GNA
Dambai (O/R), Oct. 22, GNA – The Oti Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called on Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and relevant state institutions to publicly address allegations of sexual abuse involving female students of the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
The party said the allegations, which reportedly involved the school’s headmaster, Mr Zakaria Abdulai, had raised serious concerns about the safety, welfare and protection of students in educational institutions.
In a statement signed and issued in Dambai and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), by Dr Frank Asuah, Oti Regional Secretary of the NPP, the party called on the Vice-President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, as a woman, to address concerns surrounding the allegations and reaffirm the Government’s commitment to protecting women and girls from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The statement said the Vice-President, as an educationist and the second-highest office holder in the country, possessed an important platform to advocate the welfare, dignity and protection of women and girls.
The party noted that the protection of schoolchildren from sexual abuse must transcend political affiliations and urged public officials and institutions to demonstrate leadership and commitment in safeguarding vulnerable students.
The Oti Regional NPP also urged the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Education Service to ensure that investigations into the allegations were conducted promptly, independently and transparently, with adequate safeguards for complainants.
The party further appealed to the Ministry of Education and relevant child protection institutions to strengthen reporting mechanisms and ensure that students could report alleged misconduct without fear of retaliation, intimidation or stigma.
The statement called on the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to demonstrate consistency in addressing allegations of sexual abuse irrespective of the political affiliations or status of persons implicated.
It also urged the Government to protect the dignity and privacy of the alleged victims by avoiding the disclosure of information that could expose them to further harm, while allowing investigations to proceed without interference.
The NPP stressed that leadership involved more than occupying public office and required speaking out against alleged wrongdoing, especially when the safety and welfare of children were at stake.
It said the protection of schoolchildren should remain a national priority rather than an issue influenced by political considerations.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to child protection, women’s empowerment, accountability in public life, and the promotion of safe learning environments across the country.
It urged all stakeholders to approach the matter with seriousness, fairness, and sensitivity to ensure that the facts were established, and appropriate action taken where wrongdoing was proven.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah