Obuasi Sex Victims Contemplate Suicide

Some of the female students allegedly sexually abused at Obuasi Senior High and Technical School (SHTS) are contemplating suicide, the Gender Minister, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has revealed.

Meanwhile, the suspended Headmaster, alleged to have sexually abused the girls has said his account of what happened will shock Ghanaians when it is made public and that one of the female student who accused him of rape has one child.

According to the Minister some families of some of the alleged victims are considering packing out of their communities because people are pointing fingers at them instead of supporting them.

“Some families are considering relocation because people are pointing fingers at them. People are rather victimizing them instead of supporting them,” she added.

Dr. Naa Momo Lartey said the girls are going through deep emotional pain and some now think of taking their own lives.

“There is an incident where one of the girls doesn’t want to return to school or engage in any activity in life anymore. She has regretted telling her story and blaming herself. Most of them are harbouring suicidal thoughts,” Dr. Momo Lartey said.

The Minister made the revelation when she led a delegation from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to meet opinion leaders in the Obuasi municipality. The meeting followed allegations that 19 girls of Obuasi SHTS were sexually abused. The headmaster is the accused.

The community dialogue brought together religious leaders, civil society organisations, assembly members, old students of Obuasi SHTS and other stakeholders. They discussed how to support the victims and protect children and young people in the town.

The New Publisher understands that seven families of the girls are preparing to press charges against the headmaster. This is happening amid reports of threats, intimidation and attempts to blackmail those seeking justice.

Opinion leaders at the meeting want a careful and independent probe into the allegations.

The case has left the victims and their families in distress. Instead of sympathy, some families say they are facing blame and shame.

The Minister has called on the Obuasi community to support the girls and their families, not isolate them.

Headmaster Speaks.

Zakaria Abdulai, in an interview with radio host cum popular musician, Blakk Rasta, confirmed that the Police cautioned him and granted him self-recognisance bail over the allegation.

“I have been cautioned because one girl and her parents said I have raped her. So they reported, I was cautioned, and as a headmaster I was given self-recognisance bail. I’m waiting for court days,” Zakaria Abdulai explained when Blakk Rasta asked him a direct question on whether he had been arrested.

The interview comes after reports that he had been arrested over alleged sexual assault on several female students of Obuasi SHTS, in an investigative piece titled “Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow” by JoyNews Investigative Correspondent, Manasseh Azure Awuni.

In his response, Zakaria Abdulai told Blakk Rasta that the full turn of events would change the story.

“If I give you the turn of events for this particular girl who is claiming I have raped her, you’ll be shocked,” Zakarai Abdulai said.

When Blakk Rasta asked whether his insinuation meant that the female student in question was a “bad girl”, Zakaria Abdulai said he did not know her well and would not judge her. But he added that he knew she had one child and was about 20 or 21 years old.

“I do not know her but I know she’s given birth, she has a child, she is 20 to 21 years, but I cannot judge her whether she is bad or good. I cannot. But I have my story and the Committee has heard, the Committee that did the investigation has heard my story as against the story of the girl and her people,” Zakaria Abdulai said.