The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai, to step aside from the Juaben Constituency chairmanship race pending an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
The directive was issued in a press release signed by the party's General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
"After further consideration, FEC has directed that Mr Zakaria Abdulai step aside, in the overriding interest of transparency and accountability, to allow for an unhindered investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service," the statement said.
The party clarified that the position was taken in good faith and was in no way a determination of the merits of the allegations against Mr Abdulai, who it said remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
"The Party trusts that the CID will conduct a thorough, fair and expeditious investigation, and will be guided by its outcome," the statement added.
The party directed the Ashanti Regional Election Committee and the Juaben Constituency Election Committee to take note of the directive and act accordingly.
Background
Mr Abdulai, who is also the Juaben Constituency Secretary of the NDC, had picked nomination forms to contest the constituency chairmanship position.
His 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 Obuasi SHTS.
The allegations were highlighted in an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which examined claims of sexual abuse against female students at the school.
The Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, had directed the Ghana Education Service to suspend Mr Abdulai pending full investigations and requested the police to commence investigations into the matter.
The party's directive for him to step aside from the chairmanship race follows its earlier decision to allow him to contest while investigations continued.
