Concerned Citizens of Adansi Petition Education Ministry for Urgent Reopening of Obuasi SecTech.

The petition, addressed to the Honourable Minister for Education, was also copied to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Municipal Directors of Education for Obuasi East and Obuasi, Municipal Chief Executives of the two municipalities, and the Members of Parliament for Obuasi West and Obuasi East.

According to the petitioners, the prolonged interruption of academic activities at Obuasi SecTech has affected thousands of students and created uncertainty among parents, guardians, old students and the wider Adansi community.

The group said it fully supports thorough, impartial and professional investigations into allegations that have entered the public domain but stressed that innocent students should not suffer because of allegations involving specific individuals.

Allegations and disturbances

The petition stated that serious disturbances were reported at Obuasi Senior High Technical School in August 2026 following allegations made by some students against the Headmaster, Mr Abdulai Zakaria.

According to the Concerned Citizens of Adansi, reports already in the public domain indicated that the disturbances followed allegations concerning the discovery of a fetus in a bushy area at or near the school.

Some students, the petition said, reportedly alleged that the Headmaster had knowledge of or was connected to circumstances surrounding the alleged burial.

Other reports also contained allegations of ritual activities and inappropriate relationships involving the Headmaster and some female students.

The petitioners said the allegations created considerable tension and eventually resulted in a violent confrontation on the school campus.

Following the incident, the Ghana Police Service commenced investigations, while the Ministry of Education directed the Ghana Education Service to investigate the disturbances and take appropriate action against persons found culpable.

However, the Concerned Citizens of Adansi emphasised that the matters remain allegations and that no person should be considered guilty unless wrongdoing is established through lawful investigations and due process.

Call for public update

The petitioners said the continuing uncertainty surrounding the matter has created anxiety among students, parents, guardians, old students and members of the wider community.

They are therefore calling on the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and relevant security authorities to provide an appropriate public update on the status and progress of investigations.

According to them, such information should be provided to the extent that it does not compromise ongoing investigations or possible legal proceedings.

The group maintained that while investigations and due process must continue, the prolonged closure of the school is depriving students of valuable instructional time.

The petition stated that while students in other schools continue with their academic programmes, Obuasi SecTech students risk falling behind through no fault of their own.

The situation, according to the petitioners, is particularly worrying for final-year students preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

They warned that prolonged loss of instructional time could affect the students’ academic preparation, opportunities for tertiary education and their prospects.

The Concerned Citizens of Adansi therefore urged the authorities to pursue accountability while simultaneously taking steps to restore academic activities at the school.

Interim leadership and reopening

The petitioners also called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to establish competent interim leadership or put in place an appropriate administrative arrangement where necessary.

They said such an arrangement would help restore stability, discipline, effective supervision and confidence at the school while investigations continue independently.

The group further appealed for the school to be reopened as soon as practicable under appropriate security, counselling, disciplinary and welfare arrangements.

According to the petition, these measures are necessary to ensure a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning when academic activities resume.

The Concerned Citizens of Adansi also expressed concern about newly placed students whose parents and guardians are preparing for the commencement of the new academic year.

The group noted that students placed in other Senior High Schools are expected to proceed with admissions and preparations for reporting between September 18 and September 20, 2026.

However, families whose wards have been placed at Obuasi SecTech remain uncertain about admission arrangements, prospectuses and reporting requirements.

The petitioners said the authorities must provide immediate and clear information to such families to ensure that newly admitted students are not disadvantaged before beginning their education at the school.

Ten demands

The Concerned Citizens of Adansi outlined 10 demands in their petition.

They are calling on the relevant authorities to provide appropriate public clarification on the status and progress of investigations into circumstances surrounding the closure of Obuasi Senior High Technical School.

The group also wants all investigations and legal processes to proceed independently, professionally, impartially and without interference.

They further demanded that any person found culpable after due process should face the appropriate criminal, disciplinary or administrative sanctions.

The petitioners are also requesting the establishment of competent interim leadership or an appropriate administrative arrangement for the school where necessary.

They want immediate steps to be taken towards the safe and orderly reopening of the school and the resumption of academic activities.

The group further called on authorities to protect the educational rights, safety, welfare and future of all innocent students affected by the closure.

Urgent and exceptional attention should also be given to final-year students preparing for WASSCE, according to the petition.

The Concerned Citizens of Adansi also requested appropriate remedial and academic interventions to help students recover instructional time lost as a result of the closure.

They additionally called for immediate clarity on admission and reporting arrangements for newly placed students.

The petition further demanded adequate security, counselling, discipline and welfare measures to be put in place when the school reopens.

The petitioners maintained that justice, accountability, security and the right to education can coexist.

They stressed that their petition is not intended to interfere with investigations, shield any person from accountability or prejudge the guilt or innocence of anyone involved.

“We are not asking the authorities to abandon investigations or shield anyone from accountability. We are calling for a balanced and urgent approach in which investigations continue while innocent students are allowed to resume their education in a safe and stable environment,” the petition stated.

The group said any person found culpable after lawful investigation and due process must face the appropriate consequences.

However, it argued that the educational future of thousands of students must not be held hostage by allegations involving specific individuals.

The petitioners therefore urged the Minister for Education, the Ghana Education Service and all relevant authorities to act decisively and expeditiously in the interest of the affected students.

“Let justice take its course. Let accountability prevail. But let the innocent students return to the classroom,” the petition stated.

The petition was signed by AC Nature, President of the Concerned Citizens of Adansi, Samuel Kofi Koduah, Vice President,  and Mohammed Rahman, General Secretary

The group has appealed to the relevant authorities to give the petition urgent attention and take steps to ensure that investigations continue while academic activities are safely restored at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.

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