The father of a student of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), who was allegedly sexually abused by the school’s headmaster, says his daughter may have to abandon her education and help him on his cocoa farm if the Ghana Education Service (GES) fails to secure a new school for her.
John Kwaku Bobena, speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, said his daughter, who was in Form Three, is among students currently at home following the closure of the school after the incident.
He described the situation as heartbreaking, questioning why innocent students should bear the consequences of the alleged misconduct that led to the headmaster’s interdiction.
Mr Bobena said the students were preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and should not be disadvantaged academically because of the controversy.
“This is sad and heartbreaking. These students have to prepare for WASSCE, and they will all write the same questions. Why should they suffer for the alleged misconduct of the headmaster? Now that he has been interdicted, why should the situation affect the entire student body?” he asked.
He also raised concerns about reports that about 38 teachers had been dismissed over allegations that they played a role in the case, saying the developments had further heightened uncertainty surrounding the students’ education.
Mr Bobena warned that his daughter could be forced to end her education if the GES failed to find her a place at another school.
“If GES cannot get a new school for my child to enrol in, then she will end her education here. She will stay at home and help me pick cocoa when I harvest,” he said.
The cocoa farmer explained that he had spent considerable resources supporting his daughter’s education over the years and could not afford to start paying new fees for her to begin again at another school.
He said he also had other children at different stages of their education and had supported several relatives and other people through school.
“I have used all the money I have to support her. I have other children who are also at different levels of education, so I cannot start all over again to pay new tuition for her to begin school again,” he said.
Mr. Bobena added that although he had not attended school himself, he had built a successful life as a cocoa farmer and was prepared to have his daughter work with him if she could no longer continue her education.
“I didn’t go to school, but I have a successful life. I am happily married with children, and I am a cocoa farmer,” he said.
He maintained that he had done all he could to support his daughter’s education and had not yet made efforts to enrol her in another school, expressing hope that the GES would intervene to prevent her from losing the opportunity to complete her secondary education.
The situation has raised concerns about the educational future of students affected by the closure of Obuasi SHTS, particularly those preparing for their final examinations.
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