Manasseh Urges GES to Send Sexual Abuse Victims Straight to Police, Not Through Admin Processes

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has issued a sharp warning to the Ghana Education Service (GES), insisting that any allegation of sexual abuse in a school must be reported to the police without delay — bypassing the lengthy internal administrative procedures that he argues are costing victims vital evidence and justice.

Speaking to journalists at the 3rd Samira Bawumia Literature Prize Awards Ceremony and Literary Night, Manasseh made clear that sexual abuse is first and foremost a criminal matter, and that institutional protocols should never come before a child's safety or the integrity of a criminal investigation.

"This is a criminal matter, to hell with those protocols. Get that child to the police first, get her a police report, a medical report, and that can preserve very vital pieces of evidence that would be needed during the prosecution," he said.

The Obuasi Senior High Technical School case

Manasseh's remarks follow his investigative documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow, which exposed shocking allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School and the school's headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai. The documentary sparked widespread public outrage and demonstrations, drawing national attention to what many described as a failure of duty of care by those responsible for protecting students.

The journalist revealed that the affected girls had reportedly raised complaints about their situation for over a year before anyone took meaningful action. It was only when they chose to speak out publicly and demand justice that the case gained traction. Manasseh praised their courage, noting that their willingness to come forward was critical in ensuring those allegedly responsible could be held accountable.

He also cautioned the public not to allow the political noise surrounding the demonstrations to overshadow the core issue — securing justice for the alleged victims. "I want us to go beyond the politics and demand true accountability from the police who are doing the investigation and the prosecution, the Attorney-General's Department, and also from the GES," he said.

Why it matters for Ghana

The Obuasi case has exposed a deeply troubling pattern that extends beyond one school. Manasseh revealed that he has received reports of similar incidents from across the country, where teachers and headteachers have allegedly impregnated students in their care. This suggests the problem is systemic rather than isolated, and that the institutional response — or lack thereof — has repeatedly failed vulnerable young people.

At the heart of the issue is the question of procedure versus urgency. When schools treat sexual abuse allegations as internal disciplinary matters first, delays in involving the police can result in medical evidence being lost, witnesses becoming unavailable, and perpetrators having time to cover their tracks. In criminal prosecutions, particularly those involving sexual offences, timely medical examinations and police reports are often the difference between a conviction and a case that falls apart in court.

• GES internal procedures must not delay police involvement in sexual abuse cases.
• Prompt medical and police reports are essential for preserving evidence for prosecution.
• Manasseh says similar cases of abuse by teachers have been reported across Ghana.

Child protection advocates have long argued that Ghana needs clearer, enforceable guidelines that make immediate police reporting mandatory in all cases of suspected sexual abuse in educational institutions. The GES, as the body responsible for the welfare of students across the country's public schools, faces mounting pressure to take decisive and transparent action — not just in the Obuasi case, but in building a safer school environment nationwide.