Three girls linked to the alleged sexual abuse case at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) have reportedly withdrawn from engagements with authorities after concerns over media reports, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has disclosed.
The development has raised concerns about the impact of media coverage on the privacy and willingness of students involved in sensitive investigations to cooperate with authorities.
Dr Lartey has urged journalists and media organisations to exercise restraint in reporting the case, particularly by avoiding the publication of information that could reveal the identities of the alleged victims.
The minister previously disclosed that some students had become reluctant to engage with investigators after hearing their full names mentioned on media platforms. She also warned that students could be identified through their voices, even where their faces were concealed.
The concerns come as authorities work to establish the facts surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct involving the school’s suspended headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai.
The case has attracted significant public attention and renewed calls for stronger safeguards to protect students in educational institutions.
Dr Lartey has emphasised the importance of ensuring that the affected students are treated with sensitivity and are not pressured into recounting their experiences publicly. Protecting their identities, she has indicated, is crucial to preserving their dignity and encouraging their continued cooperation with the investigative process.
The government and relevant education authorities are expected to continue engaging the affected students and their families while investigations proceed.
