A second complainant in the alleged sexual abuse case involving Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai is reportedly facing pressure to withdraw her complaint.
According to JoyNews, police sources at Bekwai confirmed that the other complainant had withdrawn her case, while the second complainant has reportedly alleged similar pressure to abandon hers.
The development has raised concerns about the protection of the students involved and whether they can pursue their complaints without intimidation or pressure to settle the matter outside court.
The father of the second complainant had earlier alleged that a traditional ruler in the Obuasi area intervened and asked the family to resolve the matter amicably.
Bekwai chief Nana Yaw Anning II confirmed that a delegation visited him in August to discuss the controversy involving the headmaster.
He said four people visited his home and explained that they wanted to discuss a case involving a student at Obuasi SHTS.
“In August, while I was at home, I received a visit from four individuals, one of whom was my subject. They explained that their visit concerned a student at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. They said the headmaster's actions had brought disgrace to the school,” he said.
Nana Anning said he told the delegation that the matter was already under investigation and that he would consider their appeal.
“I told them that since the matter was already under investigation and they had come to plead on the matter, I would give it further consideration. They agreed and left. However, before leaving, they gave us 200 cedis to buy schnapps,” he said.
Although the chief confirmed receiving the delegation, his account does not independently establish that he pressured either complainant or her family to withdraw a complaint.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said her ministry was working with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Health Service to ensure the appropriate procedures were followed in handling the students’ cases.
