Former Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, has criticised the handling of the alleged sexual abuse case at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
In an article titled ‘Awengaa teacher on the loose as women march in protest,’ Prof. Yankah described the alleged perpetrator as an ‘Awengaa’ – a term he said was used in Duakwa to describe an adult who sexually abuses underage girls.
He said the situation is worse because the suspect is a teacher and a headmaster, who should be a role model and a safe refuge for students.
“So then it could no longer be said of Master: ‘Suffer the children to come unto Master, for they shall be safe.’ Master is no longer a safe refuge! No longer a Head Master, but a Bad Master,” Prof. Yankah wrote.
According to him, the case has dragged since April 2025 when suspicion about the headmaster emerged, with a formal petition sent to authorities in February 2026, multiple reports in March, petitions by old students in July and August, and a student rampage on campus in August.
He said the Education Ministry subsequently launched an inquiry and the headmaster was suspended on October 14, with a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe commencing thereafter.
Prof. Yankah said since 2025, the suspect had allegedly defiled several girls, with a total of 19 victims coming out since the matter broke after a Manasseh Azure Awuni investigation.
He questioned the pace of investigations by the police, contrasting it with the swift arrest of a woman from Techiman in a different case.
“The rape victims could be the future of your own twin girls or anybody’s daughters desperately crying for swift justice. Yet your outfit is not in a hurry,” he said, addressing the Head of the CID.
Prof. Yankah also referenced comments allegedly made by a communicator of the ruling party who reportedly described rape as normal, saying the silence from the party is worrying.
He said the case appears to have taken a political turn because the suspect is a party activist who occupies a position and was seeking an election to elevate his portfolio.
“It’s quite clear this frightening rape case, has taken a political turn. The suspect being a party activist, a guilty verdict may give his party the dreaded name: Awengaa People’s Party,” he wrote.
Prof. Yankah called on women’s groups and leaders, including the Vice President, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Protection, and the Minister of Education, to speak up on the matter.
He said he had heard of a planned peaceful demonstration by women activists this week to seek justice for the victims.
“In the meantime, please keep our girl kids off the streets. Awengaa Teacher is still on the loose,” Prof. Yankah added.
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