Amnesty International Ghana has demanded a prompt, independent and survivor-centred investigation into allegations of sexual assault and misconduct involving female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School and the school’s headmaster, Mr Zakaria Abdulai.
In a press statement released today, the organisation expressed deep concern over reports that multiple female students have alleged sexual abuse.
It noted that complaints were reportedly submitted to the school and education authorities months before the publication of the investigative report titled “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bangalow” by Manasseh Azure Awuni.
“If established, any failure by responsible officials to act promptly on such complaints would represent a serious breach of the duty to protect students from violence and abuse,” the statement said.
Amnesty International Ghana recalled that Ghana’s Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), the Ghana Education Service Code of Conduct for Teachers, and the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) all prohibit and criminalise the seduction or sexual abuse of a child or student by a teacher, whether inside or outside school.
Sexual violence, the organisation stressed, is a criminal offence that “should not be dismissed, concealed, or resolved through informal arrangements that deny survivors protection and accountability.”
Every allegation, it added, must be handled sensitively, fairly and in accordance with due process, with the best interests of the affected students at the centre of all decisions.
The group acknowledged the Minister for Education’s directive to suspend the headmaster and the ongoing probe by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as important initial steps.
It insisted, however, that the investigation must be thorough, independent, impartial and survivor-centred, placing the safety, dignity and rights of the students first.
Amnesty International Ghana called on the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Police Service and relevant health and social welfare authorities to take five immediate measures.
These remedies, they mentioned include ensuring that affected students have access to appropriate medical care, psychosocial counselling, legal assistance, and child protection services; safeguarding their safety, dignity and privacy, and prevent intimidation, victimisation, retaliation or the unauthorised disclosure of identities, especially of those under and establishing the facts, preserve evidence and hold any person found responsible accountable under Ghanaian law and due process.
Others, the statement said, include determining whether safeguarding failures, inadequate supervision, ineffective reporting mechanisms,or mishandling of complaints contributed to the alleged incidents, and take corrective and disciplinary action where necessary as well as reinforcing school safeguarding policies, create confidential and accessible reporting channels, train teachers and administrators, and ensure students know reporting channels, train teachers and administrators, and ensure students know where to seek help.
“We stand in solidarity with the affected students and their families.
“The authorities must ensure that justice is served, accountability is upheld, and every child in Ghana can learn in an environment that is safe, respectful, and free from violence,” the statement concluded.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
