National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team Member Ibrahim Ali has rejected suggestions that the government is shielding Zakaria Abdulai, the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) headmaster accused of sexually abusing students, insisting that the administration is committed to enforcing the law regardless of political affiliation.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on The Verdict on Starr FM, Ibrahim Ali said the reported arrest of the headmaster and disciplinary action taken by the NDC demonstrated that individuals would be held accountable even when they occupy positions within the party.
He disclosed that the headmaster had been removed from his position as constituency secretary and directed to step aside from a planned constituency chairmanship contest amid the allegations.
According to Ibrahim Ali, the government had to ensure that allegations of criminal conduct were properly investigated before taking action, arguing that due process was necessary to establish the facts and protect against premature conclusions.
He acknowledged, however, that the arrest should have happened earlier, expressing dissatisfaction with the delay and its implications for public confidence in the handling of the case.
“I was not happy at all when, in the first place, this whole thing happened, this gentleman was not picked up earlier,” he said.
Ibrahim Ali maintained that the government was committed to accountability and rejected the suggestion that political connections should determine how allegations of wrongdoing weren’t handled.
“No one is bigger than the laws of Ghana. Not even the president of the land,” he said, adding that the same principle should apply to everyone, regardless of their position.
He contrasted the current situation with what he described as instances under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration in which individuals were allegedly shielded from accountability, arguing that the current government should be judged by its actions in responding to the allegations.
The case has attracted public scrutiny following an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which raised allegations of sexual abuse involving students. Investigations into the allegations remain ongoing.
Story By Pamela Quayson
