Interdicted Obuasi SHTS Headmaster Sues Manasseh Azure for Defamation

The interdicted headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai, has sued investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni for defamation over reports of alleged sexual abuse involving female students.

Manasseh confirmed the lawsuit on social media and during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, October 22.

He said it was the 12th defamation case filed against him since 2015 and added that his lawyers would handle the matter.

The lawsuit follows Manasseh’s investigative report titled Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which exposed allegations of sexual abuse involving the headmaster. The report led to Zakaria Abdulai being interdicted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) as investigations continued.

Following the report, Zakaria, who served as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Secretary for Juaben, also withdrew from the race to become the constituency chairman.

The investigation further revealed that some of the alleged cases had been reported to the police, but progress had been slow or had stopped.

Manasseh also accused some teachers, education officials and political leaders of failing to perform their duties. He said some staff members who were seeking justice for the affected students had faced pressure and victimisation.

He specifically mentioned the school’s focal person, the girl-child coordinator and others who were determined to seek justice for the students.

Meanwhile, the Police Criminal Investigations Department has confirmed that the case docket has been sent to the Attorney-General for advice.