The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has given Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai the green light to contest the party’s constituency chairmanship election, despite ongoing investigations into sexual abuse allegations against him. The decision followed a meeting between Abdulai and the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC), during which he was allowed to present his side of the matter.
NDC Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande explained that the party’s decision was intended to safeguard Abdulai’s rights while respecting the public interest surrounding the allegations and the investigations launched by the Education Minister and the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Speaking on JoyNews on Monday, October 19, Gbande said the party was also reviewing a documentary by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni before determining whether further action would be necessary. He emphasised that allowing Abdulai to contest the election should not be interpreted as a declaration of innocence. According to him, the party would take disciplinary action if the allegations were proven, irrespective of the outcome of the constituency chairmanship election.
“While we are mindful of the public interest in these issues, we must also ensure that the rights of the individual involved are not compromised. We want to ensure that the proper procedures are followed and that we do not interfere with the substantive processes initiated by the Minister and the GES,” Gbande said.
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