The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reversed its earlier directive barring the interdicted headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai, from contesting the party’s Juaben Constituency Chairmanship election.
The decision follows Abdulai’s appearance before the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC), which reconsidered the earlier restriction and cleared him to participate in the race.
The party had previously directed him to withdraw from the contest or risk disqualification amid allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students of the school.
NDC Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande said on Joy News on Monday that the decision was guided by the principles of fairness, natural justice and the presumption of innocence while investigations into the allegations remain ongoing.
He stressed, however, that the decision to allow Abdulai to contest the constituency election should not be interpreted as an endorsement of his conduct or an exoneration from the allegations against him.
According to the party, it is monitoring ongoing processes involving the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education, which have taken steps in response to the allegations.
Abdulai also informed the committee that he had initiated legal action against some individuals connected to the controversy.
The NDC indicated that findings from the ongoing investigations could have implications for Abdulai’s political future within the party.
The decision has attracted public scrutiny, given the serious nature of the allegations and the ongoing institutional processes.
Abdulai was interdicted from his position as headmaster of Obuasi SHTS following an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which detailed allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of office involving multiple female students.
Following the exposé, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu directed the GES to interdict the headmaster and requested the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to commence a formal criminal investigation into the matter.
