The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi East Municipal Director of Education, Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside with immediate effect amid ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
The directive, announced in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, forms part of efforts to ensure that investigations into the matter proceed without potential interference or the perception of interference.
GES said the two directors are required to hand over their offices and all state property in their possession to the Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Thomas Kwame Boateng.
The development follows allegations of sexual misconduct involving Mr Abdulai, which have attracted public attention following disclosures by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
In a documentary titled “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow”, the journalist reported allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at the school and raised questions about how earlier complaints were handled by school authorities and education officials.
On October 13, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the GES to interdict Mr Abdulai pending investigations and requested the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the allegations.
READ: GES interdicts Obuasi SHTS headmaster Zakaria Abdulai over alleged sexual misconduct
The controversy has also drawn scrutiny to the response of education authorities and the measures in place to protect students and ensure that allegations of misconduct are properly investigated.
The matter has also prompted a series of decisions by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), of which Mr Abdulai is the Juaben Constituency Secretary.
On October 18, the party directed him to withdraw from the contest for the Juaben constituency chairmanship or risk disqualification.
However, on October 19, the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) reversed that position and allowed him to remain in the race, citing fairness, natural justice and the presumption of innocence while investigations continued.
READ: NDC reverses position, orders Obuasi SHTS headmaster to step aside from Juaben chairmanship race
On October 20, the NDC again changed its position, directing Mr Abdulai to step aside from the chairmanship contest to allow the police investigation to proceed without obstruction.
The party stressed that the decision did not amount to a determination of the allegations against him and maintained that he was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
In its latest statement, GES has urged the public to disregard reports suggesting that the headmaster has been cleared, emphasising that his interdiction remains in force.
READ: Gender Ministry moves to strengthen child protection in schools after Obuasi SHTS abuse allegation
Management said investigations into the matter are continuing and called on the public to remain calm and cooperate with the process.
