The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has confirmed that it is collaborating with the Ghana Police Service to arrest the dismissed Assistant Headmaster of KNUST Senior High School, Charles Akwasi Aidoo, following the circulation of a viral video involving a female student.
The development follows the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) decision to remove Mr. Aidoo from office after the video surfaced online, sparking public outrage. In its statement, the Service described the matter as one of “utmost seriousness” and directed that the dismissed officer should not return to the school while investigations continue.
GES also assured the public that disciplinary measures would be pursued in accordance with its code of conduct, as parents and guardians demanded accountability.
Addressing journalists on the matter, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, explained that the case had moved beyond the jurisdiction of the Ghana Education Service and was now being handled as a criminal matter by law enforcement authorities.
“Even though GES through the school dismissed or suspended the head, we are collaborating with the police to effect the arrest of the man – the perpetrator”
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection
The Minister noted that her office was receiving a growing number of reports related to gender-based violence and child abuse, a development she attributed to increasing public vigilance and awareness.
“Because of the position of the Ministry, we are able to collaborate with the police anytime such issues come up. The most recent being the report of the 13-year-old with the assistant headmaster”
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection
According to Dr. Lartey, this heightened awareness is compelling state institutions to act more decisively in responding to abuses, with collaboration between ministries and state security agencies proving essential in addressing such cases swiftly.
Broader Gender Agenda
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang also reacted to the dismissal and subsequent criminal investigation.
Contributing to the discussion at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, she lamented the frequency of such incidents and called for stronger safeguards to protect students across the country.
“It is not good news,” she added, stressing that the safety of students must remain a top priority in Ghana’s educational system. Her comments come as child rights advocates intensify calls for stiffer sanctions against educators and other authority figures found culpable of sexual misconduct.
The Minister of Gender reiterated her ministry’s broader commitments to advancing gender equality and protection in Ghana. She highlighted the importance of improving the quality of opportunities available to women in the workplace, rather than limiting their participation to roles of lesser responsibility.
“Employing more women to do just menial jobs is not good enough -their position in the company’s hierarchy matters,” Dr. Lartey stressed.
She also reflected on the long-awaited Affirmative Action Act, which was passed after nearly two decades of deliberation. Dr. Lartey described it as a landmark achievement and promised that her ministry would rise to the challenge of meeting the expectations it has generated. “We are committed to doing our best,” she assured.
As investigations into the KNUST Senior High School case proceed, the Gender Ministry has assured the public of continued collaboration with law enforcement agencies to ensure justice. The Minister insists that beyond disciplinary actions, individuals who abuse positions of authority must face the full rigours of the law.
With the government placing emphasis on both education and gender equality, the case is set to test the resolve of institutions in protecting the rights of children while reinforcing the credibility of state-led interventions in social protection.
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