ActionAid Ghana Petitions Education Ministry for Justice and Reparation in Obuasi SHTS Case

Issued on October 23, ActionAid Ghana petitioned the Ministry of Education to pursue justice, accountability and reparation for students affected by reported sexual abuse allegations at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) in the Ashanti Region.

The petition, titled “Petition to Intervene for Justice and Repair: The Alleged Abuse of Obuasi SHTS Girls and Every Child Harmed in Our Schools,” calls for urgent measures to protect students’ rights, strengthen safeguarding systems and ensure that schools remain safe environments for learning.

This intervention follows widespread media reports concerning allegations of sexual abuse involving the school’s headmaster and 19 girls. While respecting the presumption of innocence and due process, ActionAid Ghana is concerned about the safeguarding implications of the reports and the broader challenges of sexual abuse, institutional accountability and access to justice within Ghana’s educational system.

Protecting girls’ rights and bodily autonomy

ActionAid Ghana reaffirms that every student has the right to dignity, bodily autonomy, protection from sexual violence and access to quality education in a safe environment.

The reported allegations raise critical questions about the effectiveness of safeguarding policies, confidential reporting mechanisms and institutional responses to sexual abuse in schools.

“Schools must be safe spaces for learning, where every student is protected from sexual abuse, intimidation and the misuse of authority,” the petition states.

The organisation emphasises that no individual’s social status or position of authority should undermine the protection of girls’ rights or the pursuit of justice. It calls for accountability for anyone found, through due process, to have committed, facilitated or concealed abuse.

Strengthening safeguarding and institutional accountability

Recognising that these concerns extend beyond a single school, ActionAid Ghana is calling on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to strengthen safeguarding measures across educational institutions.

AAG advocates expanded rights education to equip girls with the knowledge and confidence to recognise violations, seek help and report abuse safely. It also calls for accessible reporting mechanisms and an end to practices that allow allegations of abuse to be quietly settled or alleged offenders to be transferred between institutions without appropriate investigation and accountability.

We urge the review and consistent enforcement of safeguarding policies, alongside measures to address institutional failures and prevent the recurrence of abuse.

These measures are essential to building school environments where students can exercise their rights, speak up without fear of retaliation and trust that their concerns will be treated seriously.

Justice must include reparation and survivor support

For ActionAid Ghana, justice extends beyond investigations and legal proceedings. It must also address the harm experienced by those affected and ensure access to appropriate support.

The petition calls on relevant state institutions to facilitate access to medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance, ensure continuity of education, and protect complainants from stigma, intimidation and retaliation.

AAG stresses that survivor-centred responses must uphold confidentiality, dignity and privacy while addressing the harm suffered and any institutional shortcomings that may have contributed to unsafe learning environments.

Advancing active citizenship for social justice

The petition reflects ActionAid Ghana’s commitment to its Country Strategy Paper VII (2023–2028), Active Citizenship for Social Justice. The strategy advances human rights, gender equality, the rights of women and girls, and accountable institutions through a human rights-based approach.

By petitioning the Ministry of Education and calling on relevant state institutions to act, ActionAid Ghana is reinforcing the role of civil society advocacy in demanding accountability, strengthening public institutions and protecting fundamental rights.

As a social justice oragnisation, we also commend citizens who have demonstrated active citizenship by raising concerns and demanding accountability. It encourages sustained civic engagement to ensure that the case receives appropriate attention and that the rights and dignity of those affected remain central to the process.

ActionAid Ghana calls on the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Office of the Attorney-General and other relevant institutions to act with urgency, integrity and accountability. AAG maintains that the outcome of this case must contribute to stronger safeguarding systems, meaningful accountability and lasting improvements in the protection of students across Ghana.

Every girl deserves to learn in safety. Every student deserves dignity. Every institution has a responsibility to protect. Together, we must rebuild schools that girls can trust.

Read full petition here: https://ghana.actionaid.org/publications/2026/actionaid-ghana-petitions-education-ministry-justice-and-reparation-obuasi-shts 

Written by Jacqueline Pardikie Parditey.