A school should be a safe place for a child. When allegations of sexual abuse emerge against a headmaster, the person trusted most with that safety, the damage reaches far beyond one campus. And this is not an isolated case: GES reportedly approved about 15 dismissals in sexual harassment cases dating back to 2021.
The case at Obuasi Senior High Technical School is still unfolding. The headmaster denies the allegation, the police have sent the docket to the Attorney-General, and the courts must do their work.
But some things don’t have to wait for a verdict.
The science of education tells us students learn best where they feel safe. Authority in a school is a form of trust, not coercive power. When that trust is abused and complaints seem to vanish, confidence in the whole system collapses.
So the questions go beyond one man. Who listened when students first spoke up? Why did it take a documentary to move the system? Do our schools make it safe to report?Accountability must include process as well as people: clear reporting channels, protection for those who speak up, and a code of conduct with real consequences.
Every learner deserves a school that protects them, and building one is the work of all stakeholders, not just select officials.
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