Two Aduman SHS Teachers Remanded in Custody Over Alleged Sodomy of Minor Students

Two teachers at Aduman Senior High School in the Ashanti Region have been remanded into police custody after appearing before the Nsuta Circuit Court on allegations of sodomising two minor students. The case has sent shockwaves through the school community and reignited urgent national conversations about the safety and welfare of students in Ghanaian boarding schools.

What we know about the case

The two accused — identified as the school's chaplain and an ICT teacher — were arraigned before the Nsuta Circuit Court, which ordered that they be held in police custody pending further proceedings. The court's decision to remand rather than grant bail reflects the serious nature of the charges, which involve alleged sexual offences against minors. The two students at the centre of the allegations are understood to be enrolled at the school, placing both accused in a direct position of trust and authority over the victims.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the full details of when or how the alleged incidents occurred, but the fact that two separate teachers from the same institution face related charges has raised serious questions about oversight and safeguarding measures within the school.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana's boarding school system places tens of thousands of young people — many of them minors — in environments where they depend heavily on teachers, house masters and other school authorities for their safety. Cases of sexual abuse within these institutions, though not new, remain deeply underreported due to stigma, fear of victimisation and limited awareness among students of their rights and reporting channels.

The alleged involvement of a chaplain — a figure typically regarded as a moral and spiritual guardian — makes this case particularly disturbing. It underscores a troubling reality: that positions of trust can be exploited, and that no role within a school should be exempt from accountability and scrutiny.

Ghana's Children's Act and the Criminal Offences Act both contain strong provisions against sexual abuse of minors, with sodomy and defilement carrying significant custodial sentences upon conviction. However, advocates have long argued that enforcement remains inconsistent and that victims in institutional settings often face enormous barriers when attempting to report abuse.

Calls for stronger safeguarding in schools

Child rights organisations and education stakeholders have repeatedly called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to implement more robust child protection frameworks across all public and private schools. These include mandatory safeguarding training for all school staff, clearly defined and accessible reporting mechanisms for students, and routine independent inspections of boarding facilities.

This case adds renewed weight to those demands. Parents and guardians across the country will rightly be asking whether adequate protections are in place at the schools where their children live and study for months at a time.

The Nsuta Circuit Court is expected to hear the matter further as investigations continue. Both accused remain in police custody. GH Today will follow developments in this case closely and provide updates as they become available.

• Transparency: The Ghana Education Service has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.
• Legal process: Both teachers have been remanded; no trial date has been set yet.
• Broader concern: The case highlights urgent gaps in child safeguarding within Ghana's boarding school system.