“What Changed?” — Kwaku Azar Questions NDC’s U-Turn on Obuasi SHS Headmaster Amid S@xual Misconduct

Ghanaian lawyer and legal scholar Stephen Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, has questioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its decision to reverse an earlier move to prevent the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School from contesting a party leadership position amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct.

According to a post on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Kwaku Azar said he had watched an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which featured students and parents recounting disturbing experiences and making serious allegations against the headmaster.

Azar acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and said they raised important concerns about the safety and welfare of students in educational institutions. However, he stressed that the headmaster must be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

He explained that the presumption of innocence should not prevent institutions from taking reasonable precautionary measures while investigations are ongoing.

Azar expressed support for the Ghana Education Service’s decision to interdict the headmaster pending investigations. He argued that leaving such serious allegations unaddressed would have been irresponsible.

He also questioned the NDC’s decision to reverse its earlier position on the headmaster’s eligibility to contest a party leadership position.

Azar asked what had changed, whether the allegations had been resolved, and what considerations had informed the party’s decision to reverse its earlier precautionary measure.

He further argued that the absence of a criminal conviction did not necessarily prevent a political party from taking lawful and reasonable steps to protect its integrity and public confidence.

According to him, hearing the accused person’s side of the story was important, but responsible decision-making also required careful consideration of the allegations, the evidence, and the interests of the alleged victims.

Azar maintained that interdicting the headmaster or preventing him from contesting a party position would not automatically amount to a declaration of guilt.

He concluded that protecting the rights of the accused, safeguarding students, and maintaining public confidence could be achieved together, adding that zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in secondary schools must be reflected in the decisions institutions make when serious allegations arise.

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