Police Defend Handling of Obuasi SHTS Abuse Allegations, Say Other Cases Must Be Reported
The police have defended their handling of sexual abuse allegations against Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) headmaster Zakaria Abdulai, insisting that additional cases involving other alleged victims must be brought to their attention for separate investigations.
Bekwai Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lloyd Baidoo, said the police had completed investigations into a rape complaint filed by one student on August 4, 2026, and forwarded the case docket to the Attorney General for study and advice.
Speaking on JoyNews’ top story on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, ASP Baidoo maintained that the police investigate complaints reported to them and would act on further allegations if they were formally reported or relevant information came to their attention.
“Humbly, the police investigate matters that have been reported to them,” he said.
His comments follow growing public concern over reports that at least 19 girls have alleged abuse involving the headmaster, despite the police investigation so far focusing on a single complaint.
During the interview, the programme’s host questioned whether the police should take further steps to engage other alleged victims, even if they had not yet lodged formal complaints, given the seriousness of the allegations and their potential implications for the evidence before the Attorney General.
ASP Baidoo rejected suggestions that the police were not responding adequately to the matter, stressing that each allegation must be considered separately and investigated on its own merits.
“If other girls have been assaulted, their case—each case is different. So they have to report the case for the police to move in and investigate that matter,” he said.
He added that the police would investigate the other reported allegations if they came to their attention.
“In respect of the other matters involving the 19 girls that you are talking about, if they come to police notice, police will subsequently move in and investigate the matter,” he said.
ASP Baidoo also said the police would welcome the report of the Ghana Education Service (GES) committee that investigated the matter, noting that it could provide grounds for further action.
The Ashanti South Police Command is currently awaiting advice from the Attorney General on the docket submitted in relation to the single complaint investigated.
“The police have apparently investigated the matter and subsequently sent the docket to the Attorney General for study and advice, for which we will patiently await whatever instruction that will be delivered to the police to act upon,” he said.
The case has generated national concern, with the headmaster interdicted by the GES while the Education Ministry has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate the allegations.
Civil society organisations, including RISE-Ghana, NOPSWECO-Ghana, WGWYPS, the Youth Bridge Foundation and GenCED, have also called for thorough investigations and accountability for anyone found to have enabled or concealed abuse.
ASP Baidoo has urged other alleged victims to lodge official complaints at their nearest police station, assuring that the police would investigate any additional cases brought to their attention.
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