The Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG) has appealed to the public not to label all teachers in the country as rapists or sexual abusers in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
While describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, the association stressed that the conduct of one individual does not reflect the character, integrity, or values of the nation’s teaching workforce.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the Director of Communications for PRETAG, Mr Kingsley Ayimadu, condemned the alleged acts as disgraceful and disturbing. However, he urged the public to exercise caution and avoid sweeping generalisations against the profession.
He emphasised that the former headmaster at the centre of the controversy, Zakaria Abdulai, must face the full rigours of the law and be appropriately sanctioned if found guilty.
The former headmaster was implicated in an investigative documentary titled Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, conducted by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. The exposé highlighted allegations involving more than 14 female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
Reacting to the revelations, Mr Ayimadu acknowledged that the sheer number of accusers makes it difficult to dismiss their claims. He argued that because the victims hail from different backgrounds with no personal connections, the allegations raise grave concerns regarding the embattled headmaster’s conduct.
He reiterated that teachers are bound by legal and ethical frameworks to safeguard pupils rather than exploit them. While acknowledging the widespread anger triggered by the revelation, he cautioned the public against heightened emotions that could potentially compromise the ongoing investigations or further traumatise the victims and their families.
“We must tread cautiously in how we respond to this issue because families and young pupils are involved. It is simply not true that every teacher engages in such reckless behaviour. This is a case of one bad nut spoiling the whole barrel. Investigations are currently underway, and if he is found guilty, he will be punished accordingly. If he is exonerated, the truth will likewise prevail. Nevertheless, there is compelling evidence suggesting that these incidents occurred. How could 19 different students accuse the same individual of violating them? These victims are unrelated, making any suggestion of a conspiracy highly improbable. As teachers, we do not condone such conduct under any circumstances, and we appeal to Ghanaians not to brand all of us as rapists or sexual predators.”
Mr Ayimadu further stressed that isolated allegations must not be used to define the entire teaching community.
“I am not attempting to defend wrongdoing, but it is unfair for anyone to claim that all Ghanaian teachers are predators. We are not trained to be rapists or sexual offenders. As an association, we have taken a keen interest in this matter and instructed our Gender Desk to follow up closely. We have already engaged with a parent of one of the victims, who confirmed the incident and retained material evidence containing alleged physical proof. We have also gathered that another teacher taunted the victim instead of offering support. We must not promote a narrative that paints all teachers as rapists.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
