The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has ordered Obuasi Senior High and Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai to withdraw from the party’s Juaben constituency chairmanship race or face disqualification.
Abdulai, who serves as the NDC’s Juaben constituency General Secretary, had filed his nomination to contest the position despite allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at the school.
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni disclosed the party’s decision in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 18, 2026. His investigation into the allegations led to Abdulai’s interdiction.
“The NDC has ordered the Obuasi SHTS headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, to withdraw from the Juaben chairmanship race or be disqualified,” Manasseh wrote.
The allegations came to public attention following Manasseh’s investigation, in which 14 female students reportedly claimed they had been sexually abused by the headmaster over the preceding year.
Speaking on JoyNews on October 13, the journalist said the allegations were particularly troubling because several people and institutions expected to respond to the complaints had allegedly been aware of them for some time.
“The very disturbing aspect of the case is that it wasn’t really hidden,” he said.
Manasseh said the Municipal Education Directorate had received complaints about Abdulai. According to him, the Municipal Education Director disclosed that five girls reported alleged sexual assaults by the headmaster in March 2026.
However, the investigation did not proceed after the director reportedly fell ill.
The journalist also cited an alleged incident in June and a report by a female student who said she had been raped by the headmaster in July.
He further said teachers responsible for girl-child education and safeguarding at the school had submitted several letters and petitions concerning the alleged abuse.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, while the NDC’s directive places Abdulai’s bid for the constituency chairmanship in doubt.
