“I don’t know if I should cry. I don’t know if I should scream.” Amtu Akumfi-Ameyaw’s voice cracked with a mix of pain and confusion as she described her reaction to recent allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on October 19, the survivor advocate and co-founder of On This Side said the claims had reopened wounds from her own experience, explaining why it took her so long to speak out.
The abuse allegations involving female students at Obuasi SHS are the subject of investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow. The film scrutinizes claims of sexual abuse within the school, focusing on the failure of trusted adults to protect vulnerable students.
Akumfi-Ameyaw said survivors frequently wrestle with guilt, blaming themselves for not preventing the abuse. “There’s a certain level of supposed guilt that you have that you couldn’t protect yourself from abuse,” she said. This sense of responsibility can deepen when those expected to provide care — teachers, housemistresses, school authorities — fail to respond or offer support.
She described the betrayal survivors feel when trusted adults ignore or dismiss their disclosures. “When people you trusted to help you are unable to offer the necessary support, it reinforces those feelings of guilt and leaves you questioning whether your experience mattered at all,” Akumfi-Ameyaw said.
The advocate said survivors often face disbelief or ridicule, which intensifies emotional distress. “Hearing people laugh about or trivialize alleged abuse can deepen that emotional burden,” she added.
Survivors’ willingness to speak out depends heavily on the response they receive. Akumfi-Ameyaw explained that some who initially disclose their trauma later retract their accounts due to the personal struggles they face. “It’s the reason why you would actually even have some people come out to say their stories and eventually change their mind and say that, you know what, everything was a lie. It never happened,” she said.
The consequences of silence and disbelieved survivors extend beyond the individual. The lack of adequate response from school authorities perpetuates a culture where abuse can continue unchecked. Akumfi-Ameyaw’s comments illuminate the emotional isolation survivors face when those meant to protect them betray their trust.
The documentary by Manasseh Azure Awuni presents evidence and testimonies that suggest systemic failure within Obuasi SHS. While the investigations remain ongoing, the impact on survivors is immediate and profound. The reluctance to speak, withdrawal of testimonies, and internalized guilt reflect a complex trauma compounded by institutional neglect.
Obuasi SHS is among many institutions where power dynamics create environments ripe for abuse. The role of trusted adults is not only to prevent harm but to affirm survivors’ experiences and provide avenues for justice. When that fails, survivors are left grappling with both the violation and the silence.
Akumfi-Ameyaw’s initiative, On This Side, focuses on survivor support, aiming to break down barriers to disclosure and promote healing. Her own hesitation to speak publicly about her experience mirrors the struggle many face — the fear of disbelief, shame, and retribution.
The allegations at Obuasi SHS have reignited conversations about safeguarding in Ghanaian schools. Yet, the voices of survivors remain fragile, caught between the trauma of abuse and the failure of adults to protect them.
According to Joy Online.
