The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has condemned reports of alleged sexual assault and rape involving the Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Mr Zakaria Abdulai, reportedly affecting 16 female students, and called for urgent investigations, justice and accountability.In a statement signed on Monday, October 19, the association expressed “profound outrage, grave concern and unreserved condemnation” of the allegations, calling for urgent, transparent and decisive action from all relevant authorities.AYA described the allegations as deeply troubling, stressing that, if established, the alleged acts would constitute “a grave violation of the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of the affected students” and a serious betrayal of the trust placed in educational authorities.“A school must be a sanctuary of learning, discipline and protection, not a place where students are exposed to fear, abuse or exploitation,” the association stated.It stressed that the safety of children must never be sacrificed to protect political connections, institutional reputation or administrative convenience.The association said it would not remain silent in the face of allegations of such magnitude and outlined a series of demands aimed at ensuring accountability.It insisted that an administrative investigation could not replace criminal accountability, urging the parents and guardians of the affected students to seek appropriate legal assistance and ensure the matter received the necessary attention from the Ghana Police Service and the courts.“The affected students deserve justice, not silence; protection, not intimidation; and accountability, not institutional cover-ups,” AYA stated.The association also called for the identities and privacy of the students to be protected throughout the process.“They must not be subjected to intimidation, victimisation, public humiliation or any form of pressure intended to discourage them from seeking justice,” it added.Housemistress faces calls for investigation and disciplinary actionAYA has called for a thorough investigation into the conduct and supervisory responsibilities of the school’s Housemistress, Madam Adwoa Yeboah.The association raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents and the responsibilities of the school’s residential supervisory authorities, questioning the effectiveness of supervision and safeguarding arrangements within the boarding facilities.“What systems were in place to ensure that students were safe at night? Were the prescribed boarding school rules enforced? Were there failures in supervision, and were warning signs ignored or inadequately addressed?” AYA questioned.It maintained that the school authorities and the Ghana Education Service must provide answers, given the housemistress’s responsibility to supervise students, enforce appropriate rules and safeguard their welfare.The association consequently called for disciplinary proceedings against Madam Yeboah and demanded her removal from the position over what it described as negligence and failure to discharge her duties.It added that any further disciplinary action should be proportionate to the findings of an investigation and consistent with the applicable rules.“The protection of students must take precedence over the preservation of positions and institutional hierarchies,” the statement read.Municipal GES Director urged to answer questionsAYA has also called for the Obuasi East Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service to be held accountable and reprimanded over the matter.The association argued that reports of 16 female students being affected raised serious questions about the oversight responsibilities of the relevant education authorities and the measures in place to protect students.“We refuse to accept a situation where allegations of this magnitude, reportedly involving sixteen female students, emerge within an educational institution without the relevant authorities being made to answer serious questions about their oversight responsibilities,” it stated.AYA demanded answers about the supervision of the school, the safeguarding measures in place and the steps taken by the municipal education authorities to protect the affected students.Ashanti Regional GES Director faces calls for reprimandThe association has further demanded the immediate reprimand of the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service over his reported conduct in connection with the allegations.AYA expressed disappointment with his conduct when the matter first came to public attention, raising concerns about his demeanour at the school, the manner in which he reportedly addressed the situation and allegations of threats directed at the students.“A Regional Director of Education is supposed to protect students, listen to their concerns and ensure that allegations of abuse are handled with the seriousness they deserve. He must never be seen as intimidating the very students who need protection,” the statement read.The association considered the conduct attributed to the Regional Director incompatible with the standards expected of someone in his position.It called on the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to reprimand him and take appropriate disciplinary action following a proper investigation.AYA also expressed concern that his actions had created the impression that he was defending or supporting the headmaster rather than demonstrating the impartiality and leadership expected of his office.“At a time when sixteen female students are reportedly at the centre of these grave allegations, the Regional Director should be demonstrating sensitivity, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to their protection,” it stated.The association warned that if the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education failed to reprimand him, it would take steps to encourage traditional authorities and other stakeholders in the Ashanti Region to disengage from his activities.It also called on media houses to scrutinise his conduct, demand answers and avoid providing uncritical publicity.“In fact, the media should give him a blackout,” AYA stated.Women’s Caucus in Parliament urged to interveneAYA has called on the Women’s Caucus in Parliament to take a proactive interest in the matter and use its parliamentary oversight responsibilities to demand answers from the relevant authorities.The association argued that the allegations raised broader questions about the protection of girls in educational institutions and the adequacy of existing safeguards against sexual exploitation and abuse.“We urge the Caucus to use its parliamentary voice to demand answers from the relevant authorities, examine the adequacy of existing safeguards and advocate measures that will prevent similar incidents in the future,” it stated.AYA cautioned against allowing the matter to disappear from public attention after a few days, advocating sustained parliamentary scrutiny and practical reforms.The association also criticised the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, questioning its effectiveness in addressing challenges confronting women and the girl child.“For the Ministry of Gender, it has become a white elephant; its usefulness in addressing the persistent challenges confronting women and the girl child has become archaic,” the statement read.AYA argued that recurring concerns about the protection of women and girls raised questions about the Ministry’s effectiveness and commitment to its mandate.“What, then, is the relevance of a Gender Ministry that has failed to meet public expectations on issues affecting women and the girl child?” it questioned.The association called on the Office of the First Lady to take an active interest in the matter and use its platform to advocate the safety, dignity and protection of the affected students and other girls across the country.AYA referenced the legacy of the late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, particularly her association with the 31st December Women’s Movement and her advocacy for women’s empowerment and social welfare.It said the situation presented an opportunity for the Office of the First Lady to demonstrate leadership by supporting initiatives to protect vulnerable students, promote public awareness and strengthen the national response to sexual violence.“The affected students deserve more than sympathy. They deserve practical support, access to justice and a school environment in which their safety is guaranteed,” the association stated.AYA also expressed disappointment in the Adanse Traditional Council, the Adansehene and the Adansehemaa over what it described as their failure to take decisive action concerning the allegations against the headmaster.The association described the alleged incidents as “a taboo and an abomination against the sacred land of Adanse”, arguing that the matter had implications for the dignity, moral standing and cultural integrity of the area.It questioned why the traditional authorities had not taken what it considered decisive action over allegations reportedly involving 16 female students.“These stools are not merely symbols of prestige, power or authority. They carry responsibilities to the people, the customs, the moral values and the good name of the communities they represent,” AYA stated.The association also expressed concern that the headmaster’s political status, influence or connections could affect how political figures responded to the allegations.It argued that traditional authorities should not follow what it described as political manoeuvring but should instead stand for justice, morality and the protection of vulnerable people.“For politicians it is their stock of trade because they lack morality, but we expect traditional authority to stand for something higher: morality, justice, cultural integrity and the protection of the vulnerable,” the statement read.The Asante Youth Association commended investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and Joy FM for bringing the allegations to public attention.“We wish to use this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and Joy FM for their reporting on this disturbing matter,” the association stated.AYA acknowledged the role of investigative journalism in highlighting issues of public concern and demanding accountability from institutions entrusted with public responsibilities.It described the reporting as a reminder of the importance of “a free, courageous and responsible media in a democratic society”.However, the association expressed disappointment that the matter had not received what it considered sufficient attention from radio stations and other media organisations operating in the Ashanti Region.It questioned why journalists from Accra had brought substantial national attention to an issue affecting students in the region while local media organisations had allegedly failed to give it sufficient prominence.AYA called on media houses in the Ashanti Region to strengthen their investigative work and prioritise issues affecting vulnerable groups.“We need a development-focused media that investigates matters affecting ordinary people, amplifies the concerns of vulnerable groups and demands answers from those entrusted with public responsibility,” it stated.In its concluding position, AYA maintained that the matter must not be reduced to a political contest, a public relations exercise or an administrative inconvenience.It reiterated its call on the parents and guardians of the affected students to pursue appropriate legal avenues and urged the Ghana Police Service and other competent authorities to investigate the allegations impartially.The association also called on the Ghana Education Service to investigate the conduct of the relevant school and education officials and impose appropriate sanctions where misconduct was established.It urged the Ministry of Education to ensure that the matter received urgent attention and that effective safeguarding measures were introduced.AYA further called on the Women’s Caucus in Parliament to exercise parliamentary oversight, the Office of the First Lady to support initiatives protecting women and girls, and traditional authorities to demonstrate moral leadership.It also urged media organisations in the Ashanti Region to investigate matters of public interest more vigorously and make child protection, institutional accountability and development central to their work.The association maintained that the affected students must receive appropriate psychosocial support, legal assistance where necessary, and protection against intimidation or retaliation.It pledged to continue advocating justice, institutional accountability and the protection of vulnerable students through lawful and peaceful means.“Our position is straightforward: no individual should be considered above the law, no institution should be beyond scrutiny, and no child’s safety should be sacrificed to protect the reputation of an officeholder,” the statement read.AYA maintained that the safety of children was a collective responsibility and that the protection of the girl child must remain a national priority.