The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has defended its decision to allow Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, to contest the Juaben Constituency Chairmanship election despite allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students. The party said its decision was guided by the principles of fairness, due process and natural justice.
In a statement dated October 19, the NDC disclosed that its initial position was to require Abdulai to either voluntarily withdraw from the race or face disqualification from the constituency chairmanship contest. However, following further deliberations and the need to ensure fairness, the FEC invited him to present his side of the matter before reaching a final decision on his participation in the ongoing electoral process.
The committee said its decision was informed by several documents, including the report of the Ghana Education Service (GES) committee that investigated the allegations, an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, and a directive from the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, referring the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for a comprehensive criminal investigation.
After reviewing the available information, the party resolved to allow Abdulai to remain in the constituency chairmanship race for the time being, emphasising the importance of respecting the constitutional rights of all parties involved. The NDC maintained that the presumption of innocence must be upheld while the allegations remain under criminal investigation. It also noted that the timelines governing the ongoing internal electoral process were taken into account in arriving at the decision.
The decision means Abdulai will not be disqualified from the Juaben Constituency Chairmanship contest at this stage. However, the party has reserved the right to review its position based on the findings and outcome of the ongoing investigations.
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