NDC orders suspended headmaster to quit Juaben chairmanship race amid investigation

The National Democratic Congress has issued an ultimatum to Zakaria Abdulai, the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, demanding he withdraw from the race for Juaben constituency chairman or face immediate disqualification from the party.

Deputy National Communications Director Julius Anthony announced the directive on JoyNews' The Probe programme on Sunday, confirming that party leadership had formally communicated the decision to Mr Abdulai. The move marks a significant party response to mounting pressure over the headmaster's candidacy whilst serious allegations remain under investigation.

The allegations and suspension

Mr Abdulai came under intense scrutiny following a JoyNews investigative documentary by Manasseh Azure Awuni titled "Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow," which detailed allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape involving female students at the school. The investigation also examined how school and education authorities had handled complaints against him.

On 13 October, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the Ghana Education Service to suspend Mr Abdulai pending a full investigation. The minister simultaneously requested the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters to launch a formal investigation into the allegations.

The documentary revealed that students, parents and teachers had submitted complaints to school management and education officials before the suspension, raising serious questions about delays in investigating those complaints and alleged interventions by influential figures to shield the headmaster from accountability.

NDC's rationale for the directive

According to Mr Anthony, the party's decision stems directly from the ongoing law enforcement investigation. "Our rationale is simple: this person is currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies who essentially report to our government," he explained during the interview.

The directive effectively bars Mr Abdulai, who also serves as the NDC's Juaben constituency secretary, from pursuing the chairmanship position whilst the investigations proceed. The announcement makes clear that the party intends to distance itself from the controversy and avoid any appearance of protecting a member facing serious criminal allegations.

When contacted during the original JoyNews investigation, Mr Abdulai declined to comment on the allegations, citing ongoing police and Ghana Education Service investigations.

What this means for Ghana

This case highlights ongoing tensions between political party loyalty and institutional accountability in Ghana. The NDC's decisive action suggests the party recognises the reputational and legal risks of allowing a member under investigation for sexual violence to contest for elected positions within party structures.

The case also underscores the importance of investigative journalism in bringing institutional failures to light. The JoyNews investigation exposed not only the allegations themselves but also systemic delays and potential interference in how complaints were handled by education authorities.

For education stakeholders, the suspension and ongoing investigations represent an opportunity to examine safeguarding protocols in schools and ensure that complaints about misconduct are treated with appropriate urgency and transparency. The case will likely influence how schools, parents and authorities respond to similar allegations in future.

The allegations remain under investigation by both the Criminal Investigation Department and Ghana Education Service. The outcome of these inquiries will determine whether further action is taken against Mr Abdulai beyond his current suspension.