New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Akosua Manu, has called for investigations into all schools where Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai previously worked, saying authorities must establish whether similar allegations were made during his earlier postings.
Manu said the inquiry should not be limited to Obuasi SHTS, noting that Abdulai had worked at other schools, including Juaben.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, she questioned why interviews with the headmaster had focused on the current allegations without examining his previous employment history.
“Zakaria did not start Obuasi SHS. He’s been a head teacher in Juaben. Manu challenged media personalities who had interviewed Abdulai to ask whether similar allegations had surfaced at the other schools where he had worked.
“Why didn’t they ask that in all the schools that you taught at? Was this allegation made ever at you? Have you come across this before?” she asked.
She also referred to a message she said she had received from a former student who claimed Abdulai had made advances towards her while he was at Jabin.
According to Manu, the woman alleged that rejecting the advances had consequences for her treatment at school.
“Once he makes advances towards you and you decline, you are dead. He will hit you with passion,” Manu quoted the message as saying.
The allegation has not been independently established in the material provided. Manu argued, however, that investigators should examine accounts from former students and staff to determine whether there were earlier complaints.
She also called for scrutiny of the handling of complaints by school safety officers and education authorities.
“We have to look at everybody who was a safety protocol officer there. We need to see who is in charge even at GES who receives these complaints,” she said.
