NPP accuses government of selective law enforcement in Obuasi school abuse case

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has levelled accusations of political bias against Ghana's law enforcement and state institutions, claiming they apply the law unequally depending on the political affiliation of those involved. The allegation emerged during a heated public debate over how authorities have handled sexual abuse allegations against Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

Speaking on Saturday, 24 October, Dr. Ekua Amoakoh, spokesperson for NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, directly challenged the government's handling of the case. She pointed to what she describes as a stark contrast between the speed and vigour with which authorities arrested and remanded nurse Salomey Awity Baffoe—whose case involved allegations related to social media activity—and the more measured approach taken with Mr Abdulai's sexual abuse allegations.

"Are they trying to tell us that if you are in the NDC, the application of law as regards to you is a little different than everyone else?" Dr. Amoakoh asked, questioning whether the National Democratic Congress (NDC) affiliation of those involved influences judicial outcomes.

The Obuasi headmaster case and NDC's reversal

The controversy intensified following the NDC's initial decision to allow Mr Abdulai to contest for the position of constituency chairman whilst facing the allegations. The party later reversed this decision following significant public outcry and media scrutiny. Dr. Amoakoh criticised the NDC for failing to act swiftly when the allegations first emerged, instead waiting for public pressure to force their hand.

"If they listened, when the allegations came out, they would have done the right thing from the jump, but that didn't happen," she said. "The people of Ghana had to make so much noise. There was so much outrage that just that afternoon, they had to go and rescind their decision."

A particular point of concern for the NPP spokesperson has been the decision to grant Mr Abdulai self-recognisance bail. Dr. Amoakoh argued that allegations of sexual abuse, particularly those involving minors, warrant urgent and rigorous handling by the judicial system and should never be subject to political considerations.

Why this matters for Ghana

These accusations touch on a fundamental principle of democratic governance: the rule of law. If state institutions are perceived as applying justice selectively based on political affiliation, public confidence in Ghana's judicial and law enforcement systems erodes significantly. The controversy underscores broader concerns Ghanaians have expressed about impartiality in the security and judicial sectors during election cycles.

The allegations also highlight the tension that emerges when public figures face serious criminal charges. The swift nature of the NDC's decision reversal suggests that public and media pressure, rather than institutional processes, may be driving accountability outcomes. This raises questions about whether Ghana's institutions are sufficiently independent to investigate and prosecute cases fairly without external political interference.

For victims and survivors of sexual abuse, particularly minors, consistency in how the law treats such cases is critical to ensuring justice and encouraging reporting. If the handling of cases appears to depend on the political identity of the accused rather than the evidence and severity of allegations, it undermines victims' faith in the system.

Broader context

Ghana's 2024 election campaign has been accompanied by heightened political tensions, with both the NPP and NDC scrutinising each other's conduct. Dr. Amoakoh's comments form part of this broader political debate, though the underlying concerns about impartiality in law enforcement and justice administration are not new. Previous election cycles have seen similar allegations from opposition parties regarding selective prosecution.

As the election approaches, the handling of high-profile cases involving political figures will likely continue to attract scrutiny from both parties and civil society organisations focused on governance and judicial independence.