Obuasi SHTS: NDC cites aspirant’s rights in decision to let him contest amid investigations – Gbande
The NDC says protecting the rights of its constituency chairmanship aspirant informed its decision to let him contest while investigations into sexual abuse allegations continue.
Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande said the party reconsidered an earlier withdrawal directive after hearing from the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Zakaria Abdulai.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, he said the leadership wanted to avoid prejudicing the aspirant’s rights or undermining ongoing investigations.
“We have given him an opportunity to state his case, and so I wouldn't be his PRO.”
Mr Gbande said the party had substantially interrogated the issues. But it needed to proceed cautiously before reaching a final decision.
The allegations are the subject of Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow. The JoyNews investigation examines allegations of sexual abuse involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
Mr Gbande said the party was considering the documentary, a directive by the Education Minister and an investigative committee established by the Ghana Education Service.
Abdulai also told the party he had issued writs against some individuals connected to the matter. Mr Gbande said he was unsure whether the actions concerned defamation.
These processes, he explained, informed the decision to reconsider the initial directive.
“Indeed, it is true. Those were preliminary directives that were taken.”
He said Abdulai appeared before the Functional Executive Committee because of the gravity of the allegations. The leadership needed to hear his account before deciding how to proceed.
“He had already been cleared. He was going to be removed on the basis of the matter,” Mr Gbande said.
Asked directly whether the aspirant could file and contest pending further information, he replied: “He can now file and proceed”.
The long-serving constituency secretary is seeking to become constituency chairman.
Mr Gbande said the General Secretary would follow every stage of the investigation. The findings would give the party sufficient grounds to take an informed decision.
He warned that an election victory would offer no protection if the allegations were established.
“The party will remove him and allow him to go and face the law.”
The party could also act during the investigation if substantial findings pointed to his guilt, he said.
Any sanctions would be guided by the NDC’s constitution and the public interest.
Mr Gbande linked the party’s interest in the case to protecting children and restoring confidence in public schools.
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