Zakaria Abdulai
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr. William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside with immediate effect for investigations to continue into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai.
The directive is intended to ensure that investigations proceed without interference or the perception of interference, amid growing public concern over how the allegations were handled.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by the Head of Public Relations of the GES, Daniel Fenyi, the Service said the two directors had been instructed to hand over their offices and all state property in their possession to the Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of Education, Thomas Kwame Boateng.
The GES also reaffirmed that Zakaria Abdulai remained interdicted, dismissing reports circulating that he had been cleared.
“The public is urged to ignore any news making the rounds that the headmaster has been cleared,” the statement stressed.
Management of the Service called on stakeholders to remain calm and cooperate with the ongoing investigations.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure from civil society organisations, including RISE-Ghana, for accountability over the handling of the allegations against the headmaster.
The Ministry of Education has also directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the matter, while the reported number of students alleging abuse has risen to 19.
The controversy has raised questions about whether complaints concerning the alleged misconduct were properly addressed by the relevant education authorities.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdulai has resigned as secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Juaben Constituency and withdrawn his bid to contest the constituency chairmanship.
In a resignation letter dated October 20, 2026, he expressed gratitude to the party for the opportunity to serve and to his family for supporting him during what he described as a difficult period.
He said he would mobilise resources to clear his name. Zakaria Abdulai has denied the allegations against him.
The NDC has also directed him to step aside from the Juaben Constituency chairmanship race pending the outcome of the CID investigation.
In another development, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has alleged that 38 teachers have been targeted for transfer for criticising the headmaster.
The reported transfers have added to concerns about possible victimisation of individuals who have spoken out over the matter.
A Daily Guide Report