A 7-Member Fact Finding Committee and a District Education Disciplinary Committee have been set up to investigate sexual harassment allegations leveled against the headmaster of Effiduase Senior High Technical School in the Ashanti Region.
At least 3 female students have lodged complaint against the headmaster for making sexual advances on them.
The students; two of which are in form 2 and one in her final year say they can no longer bottle up their ordeal.
They accused their headmaster of trying to have sexual relationship against their wish.
“One Saturday he sent someone to call me from the hostel. When I got to his office, he started asking me about my family. I confided in him and told him everything.
“He later asked me to hug him which I did without hesitation because I didn’t think anything negative. He started kissing my neck and was making sexual advances towards me and when I resisted, he said he was joking.
“Minutes later, he boldly told me he wants us to have sex. That was when I got alarmed and hurriedly left his office.
“I informed my mother about what happened and she confronted the headmaster,” a 17-year-old form two student (name withheld) told Onuaonline.
Another 17-year-old form two student also said “sometimes my mother sends me money through the headmaster because I don’t have a phone. So one day, I went to his office to take my money but he attempted hugging me. I did not resist because I thought he is just being nice.
“Subsequently, he bought me provisions, pomade and other things for my personal use though I did not request for any. He told me he wants to help me pass my WASSCE when the time is due. I later realised he wanted to do beyond the kiss and have intimate relationship with me but I resisted. Since then, he gets angry and even insults me whenever he sees me”.
For a 19-year-old form 3 student, she expects the headmaster offer them advise “but when he calls and you tell him you’re going for prep he gets annoyed.
“His continuous threat on me over my refusal to visit him outside school made me report the matter to some of the teachers.”
The Senior Housemaster of Effiduase Senior High Technical School, Ali Yeboah, has petitioned the Sekyere East office of Ghana Education Service to investigate the alleged sexual harassment on the students.
Portion of the petition sighted by Onuaonline reads “I would be very grateful if you could investigate into the sexual harassment case between this student (name withheld) and the Headmaster, Richard Asiedu”.
The petition further states, the headmaster has admitted committing the crime.
However, when contacted by our reporter, Mr Asiedu denied all the allegations levelled against him.
The Sekyere East District Education Office has thus commenced investigations into the matter.
The District Education Director, William Brako Adjepong noted “we are aware of the allegations and we’ve setup a committee to go into it and we can assure you that we will get to the bottom of this. This is not something that we will just throw under the carpet”.
The District Education Disciplinary committee is expected to submit its findings to the Regional Education Directorate within 7 days for further action.
— OnuaOnline
