The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai, to withdraw temporarily from the Juaben Constituency chairmanship race to facilitate an unhindered investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.

The directive, announced in a press statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, follows mounting public scrutiny surrounding the allegations and the ongoing investigative process.

The party explained that its Functional Executive Committee (FEC), after further deliberations, considered it imperative for Mr Abdulai to step aside in the overriding interest of transparency, accountability and institutional credibility.

“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 NDC, however, cautioned against interpreting the directive as an adjudication of the allegations, emphasising that the decision was taken in good faith and did not prejudice Mr Abdulai’s right 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 has consequently instructed the Ashanti Regional Election Committee and the Juaben Constituency Election Committee to take cognisance of the directive and implement the necessary measures in accordance with the decision.

Mr Abdulai, who also serves as the NDC’s Juaben Constituency Secretary, had previously obtained nomination forms to contest the constituency chairmanship position.

His political ambition subsequently became a subject of intense public debate following his suspension by the Ghana Education Service (GES) over allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students at Obuasi SHTS.

The allegations featured prominently in an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which examined claims of sexual abuse involving female students at the institution.

In response to the controversy, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, directed the GES to suspend Mr Abdulai pending a comprehensive investigation and called on the police to commence investigations into the matter.

The NDC’s latest decision marks a departure from its earlier position, which permitted Mr Abdulai to participate in the constituency chairmanship contest while investigations remained underway.

By directing him to step aside, the party appears to have prioritised the credibility of its internal electoral process and the need to ensure that the ongoing investigation proceeds without impediment.

The development places Mr Abdulai’s immediate political aspirations in abeyance as the CID pursues the matter. The outcome of the investigation is expected to inform subsequent decisions by the party.

Meanwhile, the allegations against Mr Abdulai remain unproven, and the presumption of innocence applies unless the appropriate legal process establishes otherwise.

National Democratic Congress (NDC), Zakaria Abdulai, Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Juaben Constituency, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Manasseh Azure Awuni, Ghana Education Service (GES), CID Ghana Police Service, sexual misconduct allegations, Ashanti Region, NDC constituency elections,