State institutions failed to protect Obuasi SHTS abuse victims, says Bawumia's former gender adviser

The state has fallen short in protecting alleged victims of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), according to Akosua Manu, former gender and social protection adviser to ex-Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Her comments come weeks after investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni's documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow, brought allegations involving 19 female students into public focus.

Ms Manu has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministry of Education and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to move swiftly to identify and protect victims, secure evidence and prevent further abuse independent of any court ruling. She emphasised that protective measures do not require a criminal conviction, arguing authorities should act immediately rather than waiting for the legal process to conclude.

The protection gap and power dynamics

Central to Ms Manu's argument is the concerning power imbalance between educators and students. Teachers' authority over grading, discipline and academic outcomes creates environments where students may feel unable to resist inappropriate demands or report abuse for fear of retaliation, poor treatment or academic consequences. This dynamic, she explained, makes students particularly vulnerable and requires institutional safeguards beyond what has been deployed thus far.

Ms Manu also raised alarm about reports that certain individuals had allegedly contacted families of complainants. She called for urgent measures to protect witnesses and prevent evidence tampering, warning that delay undermines both the investigation and victims' security.

Why this matters for Ghana

Ghana's response to institutional sexual abuse carries broader implications for child protection across the education system. The Obuasi case has exposed gaps in how state agencies coordinate and act on credible allegations. Ms Manu's intervention underscores a critical distinction: whilst the accused headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, deserves due process and the presumption of innocence, that legal protection should not prevent the state from taking immediate steps to safeguard children still within the institution.

Global data Ms Manu cited adds urgency to this conversation. UNICEF's 2024 estimates indicate more than 370 million girls and women worldwide experienced rape or sexual assault before age 18—roughly one in eight. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, approximately 79 million girls and women have endured contact sexual violence during childhood. These figures highlight why Ghana's institutional response cannot be delayed by procedural caution.

Ms Manu also flagged potential patterns, disclosing that she received a private message from a former student at Juaben, where the headmaster previously worked, alleging inappropriate conduct and harsh treatment after she rejected his advances. The woman claimed possible victims at Juaben could number over 100. Whilst this allegation remains unverified, Ms Manu urged investigators to examine such claims thoroughly rather than dismiss them without inquiry.

Psychological toll and long-term impact

Beyond immediate protection, Ms Manu emphasised the lasting damage sexual abuse inflicts on survivors. Psychological trauma, depression, anxiety and school dropout are common outcomes, particularly when victims lack adequate support and protection. Without swift institutional intervention, affected students risk compounding harm alongside the alleged abuse itself.

She also criticised certain media coverage of sexual abuse cases, describing some reporting as insensitive and potentially sensationalised. Responsible journalism, she suggested, should balance public interest with the dignity and trauma-informed needs of survivors.

Ms Manu's intervention shifts focus from politics to child welfare, insisting the controversy must not become merely a partisan issue. The safety and well-being of the 19 alleged victims—and potentially others—must anchor all actions by education and protection agencies going forward.