By Aaron Hammond 
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reversed its earlier decision and cleared Zakaria Abdulai, the interdicted headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), to contest the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship election.
The decision comes amid ongoing investigations into serious sexual abuse allegations involving female students. The party reconsidered its position after hearing Abdulai’s response to the allegations.
Why the NDC Reversed Its Decision
NDC Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande explained that Abdulai appeared before the party’s Functional Executive Committee to present his side of the matter. The leadership said it needed to consider his response while allowing the investigations to continue without interference.
The decision reverses an earlier directive that required Abdulai to withdraw from the contest or risk disqualification. Gbande maintained that protecting an individual’s rights does not mean ignoring the public interest, especially when allegations involve students and a school authority.
Investigations Continue Despite Clearance
The controversy has drawn attention to the allegations against the Obuasi SHTS headmaster, who has been interdicted pending investigations. The Ghana Education Service (GES) has initiated an investigative process, while the Education Minister has also called for the matter to be investigated.
The allegations remain under investigation, and the available reports do not establish a final finding of guilt. It is therefore important to distinguish between allegations and proven facts as the relevant authorities work to establish what happened.
Gbande stressed that clearing Abdulai to contest the Juaben constituency chairmanship does not amount to clearing him of the allegations. He said the party would monitor developments and could take disciplinary action if substantial findings establish his involvement.
He also indicated that winning the internal election would not protect Abdulai from possible sanctions. The party says any action would follow its constitution and take the public interest into account.
The case raises important questions about accountability, student protection and public confidence in Ghana’s education system. For parents, students and teachers, the priority is a fair and thorough investigation that establishes the facts. The outcome should guide any further action by the education authorities and the NDC.
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Source: Ghana News Page