The Zonta Club of Accra has urged the Ministry of Education to take decisive action against perpetrators of sexual abuse of girls in schools and ensure accountability.
In a release shared with the Ghana News Agency on Friday, the Club described the abuse of girls as a betrayal of trust and the duty of care entrusted to teachers.
It called for the immediate dismissal and prosecution, under Ghana’s child protection and criminal laws, of teachers found to have sexually abused children.
The release followed media reports and the subsequent suspension of Mr Zakaria Abdulai, Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Ministry of Education announced his suspension on Tuesday, October 13, pending investigations.
Madam Adodo Abla Adih-Nuviadenu, President of the Zonta Club of Accra, called for zero tolerance for sexual abuse of girls in educational institutions, swift investigations and appropriate sanctions against perpetrators.
“Schools must be places of safety, learning, and opportunity, not environments where girls are exploited, violated, and robbed of their childhood by the very people charged with protecting them,” she was quoted as saying.
“Allegations must be investigated promptly, perpetrators must not be shielded by institutional positions or professional connections, and school authorities who conceal abuse or retaliate against survivors must also be held accountable.”
The Club called for immediate protection and psychosocial support for girls who survived sexual abuse, without victim-blaming, intimidation or retaliation.
It also stressed the need for regular monitoring, confidential reporting channels and accountability at all levels, including among school leaders and officials who failed to act on credible reports of abuse.
“A teacher’s position is not a licence to exploit a child, and a headmaster’s authority is not a shield against justice. Every survivor deserves justice, dignity, and support, not silence or retaliation. Our girls deserve teachers who nurture their dreams – not adults who destroy them,” the release added.
The Club urged the Ministry to move beyond condemnation and take concrete action to demonstrate that protecting girls from sexual abuse in schools was non-negotiable.
