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 immediately as investigations continue into sexual misconduct allegations involving Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) headmaster Zakaria Abdulai.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and signed by GES Head of Public Relations Daniel Fenyi, the Service explained that the decision was intended to ensure an independent investigation without interference or the appearance of undue influence.
The two education directors have been instructed to hand over their offices and all state property in their possession to Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education Thomas Kwame Boateng.
GES Confirms Obuasi SHTS Headmaster Remains Interdicted
The GES has also dismissed reports suggesting that Zakaria Abdulai has been cleared of the allegations, confirming that he remains interdicted while investigations continue.
The Service has appealed to the public to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant authorities as they work to establish the facts.
The decision follows growing pressure from civil society organisations, including RISE-Ghana, over the handling of the allegations involving the Obuasi SHTS headmaster.
CID Investigates Allegations Against Zakaria Abdulai
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has also directed Mr Abdulai to step aside from the Juaben Constituency Chairmanship race pending the outcome of an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
A JoyNews investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni reported that municipal authorities, education officials and other influential individuals had allegedly received complaints about the headmaster months before his suspension.
The number of students reportedly alleging abuse has risen to 16. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has directed the CID to investigate the matter.
The latest directive is expected to address concerns about how the complaints were handled and help ensure that the ongoing investigation proceeds without interference.
The GES has urged all stakeholders to support the investigative process. The allegations against Mr Abdulai have not been proven, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Source: newsthemegh.com