Accra, Ghana, October 20, 2026: Child Rights International (CRI) has told the Ghana Education Service (GES) that it cannot be trusted to protect children in schools. The organisation wants the GES counselling unit turned into an independent child protection authority.

Executive Director Bright Appiah made the call at a press conference on Tuesday. It follows allegations that the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) abused 19 female students.

“The Ghana Education Service cannot be trusted with the protection of our children in schools because of their silence and inaction on these matters,” Appiah said.

Independent authority to oversee child protection in schools

Appiah said the counselling unit sits inside the GES, which limits its ability to scrutinise how the Service handles abuse cases. CRI wants it elevated into an independent authority with powers to supervise child welfare and protection across schools.

“We think that for children to be able to enjoy their fundamental right to protection, dignity and privacy, there’s a need for the state to begin to rethink how our child protection system should look within our schools,” he said.

CRI also wants social welfare officers deployed to schools. It is demanding that the GES publish details of all abuse investigations it has conducted since 2018 and move quickly to enforce disciplinary action.

Code of conduct must put children first

Appiah said the GES code of conduct is skewed towards shielding institutions. He called for a full review so that the code protects children instead of school reputations.

“GES must review its code of conduct to ensure it is child centred instead of focusing on protecting the reputation of educational institutions,” he said.

He also insisted that abuse allegations must stop being treated as internal administrative matters. CRI says they must go to law enforcement and child protection authorities. The organisation argues that keeping cases in-house has emboldened perpetrators and contributed to the rise in abuse in schools.

Appiah added that investment in education must go beyond infrastructure. It “must also guarantee a safe, protective environment where every child can learn and thrive,” he said.

What is alleged at Obuasi SHTS

The allegations centre on the interdicted headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai. They were first set out in a JoyNews investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni titled “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow”, which reported sexual harassment, assault and rape involving female students. The allegations have not been tested in court.

The number of students who have reportedly come forward has risen from 16 to 19. According to the investigation, the school’s Girl Child Coordinator petitioned management in February 2026. Five students then complained to the Obuasi West Municipal Education Directorate in March, and further incidents were reported in June and July.

The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Jacob Anaba, has said 38 teachers who spoke out against the headmaster were transferred or asked to leave the school. He said complaints dating back to 2025 were ignored.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu ordered the headmaster’s interdiction on October 14, 2026, and referred the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had cleared Abdulai to contest the Juaben chairmanship, then reversed course and demanded his resignation. He has resigned as its Juaben Constituency Secretary and withdrawn from the race.

A pattern, not an isolated case

CRI says Obuasi is not an isolated incident. It describes the case as a symptom of a wider culture of cover-ups and delayed action within the GES, and is calling for a complete overhaul of safeguarding policies in schools.