A teacher at Ekumpoano Catholic Basic School, Stephen Desu, has alleged that sexual misconduct by teachers is widespread across Ghana’s schools, claiming that almost every school has one or two teachers involved in such behaviour.
He said the problem had persisted for years but was often not openly acknowledged, warning that failure to confront it decisively could leave students vulnerable to abuse.
“And almost every school—if all of us will be politically correct with everything, everybody is aware that in almost every school, there is one or there are two teachers who are engaged in this,” he said.
Mr Desu made the comments on Joy News’ PM Express, during a discussion on allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
The case has drawn national attention following reports by JoyNews investigative correspondent Manasseh Azure Awuni. The school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, has been interdicted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and arrested by the police as investigations continue.
The allegations against Mr Abdulai have not been established in court.
‘The problem is at every level’
Mr Desu said sexual misconduct was not confined to senior high schools, adding that concerns existed at the primary and junior high school levels as well.
“At the primary level, the problem is there. At the JHS level, it’s there. But it’s worse. It’s worse at the SHS level,” he said.
He also alleged that some teachers viewed postings to senior high schools as an opportunity to engage in sexual misconduct.
