The Ghana Education Service has directed the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr William Amankrah Appiah, and the Obuasi East Municipal Director of Education, Mr Kwamena Owusu-Nketiah, to step aside with immediate effect as investigations continue into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Mr Zakaria Abdulai.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and signed by its Head of Public Relations, Mr Daniel Fenyi, the service said the directive was intended to ensure the investigation proceeds without interference or the perception of interference.
The two directors have been instructed to hand over their offices and all state property in their possession to the Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Thomas Kwame Boateng.
Headmaster remains interdicted
The service reaffirmed that Mr Abdulai remains interdicted, dismissing reports circulating that he had been cleared.
"The public is urged to ignore any news making the rounds that the headmaster has been cleared," the statement said.
Management of the service called for calm, support and cooperation as investigations into the matter continue.
Background
The directive comes after Mr Abdulai formally resigned from his position as the Juaben Constituency Secretary of the National Democratic Congress and withdrew his candidature for the constituency chairmanship position.
In a letter addressed to the party's General Secretary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Mr Abdulai said his decision followed the party's directive for him to step aside to allow an unhindered investigation into the allegations against him.
"I write to formally notify you of my decision to resign from my position as the incumbent Secretary of the Juaben Constituency of the National Democratic Congress, with immediate effect," he wrote. "I also wish to formally withdraw my candidature for the position of Constituency Chairman in the forthcoming NDC constituency elections, effective immediately."
Mr Abdulai expressed gratitude to his friends, relatives and well-wishers who had stood by him and maintained their faith in his innocence. He also expressed gratitude to the party for the opportunity to serve as both a member and an officer.
He said he intended to devote his attention and resources to pursuing all lawful avenues to clear his name and vindicate his position.
"I remain hopeful that, once these matters are resolved, I will be able to return to active political engagement and continue contributing to the ideals and aspirations of the NDC," he said.
The letter was copied to the National Chairman of the party and the Ashanti Regional Chairman.
Earlier directives
Mr Abdulai's candidature became a subject of public concern after he was suspended by the Ghana Education Service over allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students at the school.
The Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, had directed the Ghana Education Service to suspend him pending full investigations and requested the police to commence investigations into the matter.
The party's Functional Executive Committee, in a press release dated October 20, 2026, directed that Mr Abdulai step aside from the chairmanship race in the overriding interest of transparency and accountability, to allow for an unhindered investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service. The party emphasised that the directive was not a determination of the merits of the allegations and that Mr Abdulai remained entitled to the presumption of innocence.
