GES: Obuasi SHTS Sexual Misconduct Probe Extended 7 Days

• The Ghana Education Service (GES) has extended its investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Obuasi SHTS headmaster Zakaria Abdulai by seven days.
• The committee required additional time to adequately capture the experiences of alleged victims and engage all individuals identified in a central video.
• GES Public Relations Officer Daniel Fenyi confirmed the extension, stating the initial two-week deadline had expired.
• The committee is expected to complete victim engagement by November 11 and submit its report to the GES Council.
• GES stressed that investigations are ongoing, and no individuals, including Mr. Abdulai, have been cleared of the allegations as of November 6.

The extension was specifically granted to allow the committee to engage all identified victims from a central video, ensuring their experiences are comprehensively documented in the final report.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has granted a seven-day extension to its committee tasked with investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Zakaria Abdulai, the interdicted headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). This decision came after the committee, which was initially given two weeks to complete its work, requested additional time to ensure a thorough inquiry. The original two-week period was set to conclude on a Wednesday, prompting the need for the extension.

The administrative inquiry, a GES administrative inquiry Ghana, is focused on serious allegations that have drawn significant attention. The committee's request for more time underscores the complexity and sensitivity of the case, particularly concerning the engagement with individuals connected to the incident. This extension allows the investigators to delve deeper into the matter before submitting their findings.

A primary reason for the extended timeline is the committee's commitment to fully engage with all identified victims. While several individuals, including some alleged victims, have already been interviewed, the committee requires additional time to adequately capture their experiences and perspectives within its report. The extension was specifically granted to allow the committee to engage all identified victims from a central video, ensuring their experiences are comprehensively documented in the final report.

GES Public Relations Officer, Daniel Fenyi, confirmed the extension and elaborated on its purpose during an appearance on Joy FM's Midday News. He emphasized the investigators' intent to produce a report that accurately reflects the actual experiences of the alleged victims, rather than concluding the investigation without their complete representation. The committee is expected to reach all remaining victims by November 11 and subsequently submit its comprehensive report to the GES Council.

Mr. Fenyi also took the opportunity to clarify the Ghana Education Service's official position regarding the ongoing probe. He firmly stated that the investigations are still active and dismissed any suggestions that the Service had cleared Mr. Abdulai or any other individual implicated in the allegations. This statement was made as of Friday, November 6, the date the information was released.

The GES has not yet concluded its investigations, and no final determination has been made concerning the sexual misconduct allegations. This reiteration from the GES PRO aims to counter any premature assumptions or misinformation circulating about the status of the Obuasi SHTS headmaster probe. The process is being handled with diligence to ensure due process and a fair outcome based on all collected evidence.

Lawyers advising educational institutions or public sector bodies should note the procedural aspects of internal investigations, particularly regarding extensions for victim engagement and ensuring comprehensive reporting. This case highlights the importance of thoroughness in handling sensitive allegations like sexual misconduct to avoid premature conclusions and ensure due process.

Source: Original reporting via Emmanuel Tetteh