The number of students who have accused the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School of sexual abuse has increased from 16 to 19, investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has disclosed.
Manasseh said three more students had reportedly come forward with allegations, raising concerns that the number of cases could increase further, as some victims had not yet formally reported their experiences.
Speaking on The Probe on Sunday, October 18, he said information from his sources at the school indicated that more names had emerged.
The journalist revealed that his investigation initially identified five students who had allegedly been affected. However, the number rose to 14 when he visited the school to investigate the matter. Two additional students subsequently came forward, bringing the total to 16 before the latest three cases were reported.
In an interview on Joy FM on Thursday, October 15, Manasseh discussed his latest documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which examines the allegations against the school’s suspended headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
He described the situation as particularly disturbing because the school had faced similar allegations in 2018 involving a senior housemaster who was subsequently dismissed.
Manasseh explained that his first visit to Obuasi in 2018 was also connected to allegations of sexual assault at the same institution.
He said he became aware of the latest developments after returning from studies abroad, when a source at the school contacted him to report that the situation had deteriorated. Attempts had also reportedly been made to reach him while he was away.
The investigative journalist noted that addressing the allegations had become more challenging because they involved the headmaster, who holds the highest administrative position within the school.
He further expressed concern that the allegations appeared to be widely known within the Obuasi community, including among some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), yet many people were reportedly reluctant to speak publicly about the matter.
The allegations against Zakaria Abdulai remain under investigation, and no conclusion on his culpability has been established.
source: myjoyonline
