The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned that it will remove its Obuasi Senior High Technical School constituency chairmanship aspirant if he is found guilty of sexual abuse, regardless of the election outcome.
Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande told JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday that the party allowed the aspirant to contest while investigations were ongoing. “He can now file and proceed,” Mr Gbande said. “The party will remove him and allow him to go and face the law,” he added.
The controversy emerged after investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni released the documentary Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow. The film examines allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School involving female students and the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai. The claims remain under official investigation.
Mr Gbande confirmed the aspirant, a long-serving constituency secretary, had appeared before the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee. The party leadership had initially directed him to withdraw from the race or face disqualification, but this stance was reconsidered.
“He had already been cleared. He was going to be removed on the basis of the matter,” Mr Gbande said. He explained that the party was taking into account the documentary, a directive by the Education Minister, and an ongoing Ghana Education Service investigation into the allegations.
The aspirant also informed the party leadership that he had initiated legal action against some individuals related to the case. Mr Gbande said the NDC needed to hear his account and avoid undermining those processes. “We have given him an opportunity to state his case, and so I wouldn’t be his PRO,” he added.
The party’s General Secretary will monitor the investigation closely and use its findings to make an informed decision. Action could take place before the official investigations conclude if substantial evidence points to the aspirant’s guilt.
“Even if, in the process of the investigation, a substantial determination is made of his guilt, the party will still invite him and take a decision on that matter,” Mr Gbande said.
Any sanctions would be based on the party’s constitution and public interest. Mr Gbande linked the NDC’s involvement to protecting children and restoring confidence in public schools.
The situation unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of sexual abuse in Ghanaian educational institutions following Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary. The film’s release has prompted official probes and public debate about safeguarding students and accountability among school authorities.
The NDC’s response to the allegations against its aspirant underscores the tension between political processes and ongoing legal investigations. The party’s willingness to allow the candidate to contest while investigations continue contrasts with its clear warning that victory would not shield him from consequences.
The case remains unresolved as investigations into the Obuasi Senior High Technical School allegations proceed under the direction of Ghana’s Education Minister and the Ghana Education Service.
According to Joy Online.
