The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside with immediate effect as investigations continue into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and signed by its Head of Public Relations, Daniel Fenyi, the GES said the directive was intended to ensure the investigation proceeds without interference or any perception of interference.
The two directors have been instructed to hand over their offices and all state property in their possession to the Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Thomas Kwame Boateng.
The Service also reaffirmed that Mr Abdulai remains interdicted, dismissing reports suggesting that he had been cleared of the allegations.
“The public is urged to ignore any news making the rounds that the headmaster has been cleared,” the statement said.
GES management appealed for calm, support and cooperation from stakeholders as investigations into the matter continue.
Pressure mounts over handling of allegations
The directive comes amid growing pressure from civil society organisations, including RISE-Ghana, over how the allegations against Mr Abdulai were handled by education authorities.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has also directed Mr Abdulai to step aside from the Juaben Constituency Chairmanship race pending the outcome of an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
The developments follow a JoyNews investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which reported that municipal authorities, education officials and other influential individuals had received reports concerning alleged sexual abuse by the headmaster months before his suspension.
The number of students who have reportedly alleged abuse has since risen to 16.
The Ministry of Education has directed the CID to investigate the allegations.
Authorities face calls for accountability
The decision to have the two education directors step aside has intensified scrutiny of how complaints against the headmaster were handled and whether appropriate action was taken when concerns were first raised.
The investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the allegations, examine the responses of the relevant authorities and determine whether any misconduct or administrative failures occurred.
The GES has urged all stakeholders to cooperate with investigators to ensure the process proceeds without interference.
The allegations against Mr Abdulai have not been established, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence while investigations continue.
