Dr Millicent Adjei, Ashesi University’s Director of International Programs and Campus Cohesion and Safeguarding Lead, criticised Obuasi Senior High Technical School’s handling of safeguarding concerns on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday. She said children placed in a school’s care must feel safe enough to report abuse and highlighted two key failures in the school’s accounts.
Adjei identified boundary crossings between staff and students, noting that children were allowed to run personal errands for staff and even be taken to the headmaster’s house. She warned that such conduct breaches the duty of care and should not occur. The second failure she cited was an environment that discouraged children from speaking up. She recounted an incident where a girl could not comfortably report her experiences and had to rely on her house prefect to bring the matter to attention. The girl had suffered multiple incidents, including being hospitalised after being caned, yet no action was taken.
The comments come after Manasseh Azure Awuni’s investigation, "Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow," which examined allegations of sexual abuse against the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai. Authorities had received complaints months before suspending Abdulai, who is now interdicted by the Ghana Education Service pending investigations. A police complaint has also been lodged.
Adjei stressed that a school’s responsibility is to create an environment where students feel confident to approach someone with concerns. She said the school had failed to do so, leaving children vulnerable and unable to seek help.
Observers will watch how the Ghana Education Service and the police proceed with the investigations and whether the school implements reforms to address the safeguarding gaps highlighted by Dr Adjei.
