A teacher at Ekumpoano Catholic Basic School, Stephen Desu, has called attention to the financial challenges faced by female students, alleging that some engage in transactional sexual relationships with teachers in exchange for money.

Speaking on JoyNews, Desu said some girls allegedly seek financial support from teachers in exchange for sex, while others may become vulnerable to such arrangements because of inadequate support from their families.

His comments followed an investigative report by Manasseh Azure Awuni into allegations of sexual abuse involving at least 14 students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

Desu said the issue was complex and required greater attention to the circumstances that could make students vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

“There are girls in schools who position themselves to sexually exploit teachers for their money whilst teachers get sex from them in a transactional relationship,” he said.

He referred to concerns about food provision in schools, alleging that some teachers had stepped in to provide money to female students, with sexual activity allegedly exchanged for the financial assistance.

“Especially when this food issue came up in our schools, where they’re not getting food. Some teachers stepped up, and they were giving the girls money, and they were exchanging sex for the money they were giving them,” he said.

The teacher also challenged parents to take a more active interest in their daughters’ welfare and establish how they meet their needs while away at school.

“If you leave your girl child in school and you don’t support her with money and she’s surviving, you as a parent, what makes you think that that child is surviving just because she’s just there?” he asked.

Desu maintained that although teaching is regarded as a noble profession, the size of the workforce means that individuals who prey on students could still be found within it.

“I mean, all professions can boast, but the teacher taught them all. So we position ourselves as the noble profession. Unfortunately, if you have more than 300,000 persons in your classroom as teachers, you may get such persons as predators,” he said.

His remarks come as allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi SHTS continue to generate public concern.

The school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, has been interdicted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and arrested by the police as investigations proceed. The Education Ministry has also directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate the allegations.

The case, brought to wider public attention through the reporting of Manasseh Azure Awuni, has renewed calls for stronger safeguards against sexual misconduct in schools and more effective systems for handling complaints.

Although Desu characterised some alleged encounters as transactional, financial hardship does not remove the serious safeguarding concerns associated with sexual relationships between teachers and students. The imbalance of authority and the teacher’s duty to protect students remain central considerations.

The controversy has also affected Abdulai’s political activities. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed him to step aside from the Juaben Constituency chairmanship race while the process continues.

Abdulai has said he will commit his attention and resources to clearing his name. He has resigned as NDC secretary in the Juaben Constituency and withdrawn his candidature for the constituency chairmanship.