SRHR Advocates demand urgent action over alleged sexual assault of BOGISS student
SRHR Advocates call for survivor-centred investigation, stronger school safeguarding measures and sustained support for the alleged victim.
The Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Advocates Network of the Upper East Region has called for urgent action following reports of an alleged sexual assault involving a student of the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS).
The Network said it was outraged by reports that the student was allegedly assaulted by two watchmen employed at the school.
According to the Network, information from the Ghana Education Service (GES) indicates that the incident occurred while the student, a special-needs learner who was on medication, was experiencing a medical relapse and required urgent care.
The SRHR Advocates Network described the alleged incident as a serious breach of the duty of care owed to students and called for comprehensive measures to ensure justice and strengthen child protection systems in schools.
It said schools must remain safe environments for children and expressed concern that a student reportedly in distress could allegedly have been targeted by individuals entrusted with safeguarding the school premises.
The Network further stressed that the student’s status as a child living with a disability made the reported incident particularly concerning.
While commending the authorities for the reported arrest and interdiction of the suspects, the Network said accountability must go beyond those immediate measures.
It is therefore demanding that the Ghana Police Service conduct a thorough, survivor-centred investigation and ensure the case is prosecuted swiftly where the evidence supports criminal charges.
The Network also called on the GES to conduct an independent safeguarding review of BOGISS and other boarding schools, with particular attention to the recruitment, supervision and conduct of non-teaching staff.
It further urged the Ministry of Education and GES to provide the student with immediate and sustained medical, psychological and social support.
According to the Network, school authorities must also protect the student’s safety, privacy and dignity and ensure that she is not subjected to stigma, intimidation or pressure to withdraw the case.
The Network called for stronger enforcement of child protection policies across second-cycle institutions, including the establishment of confidential reporting mechanisms through which students can safely report abuse.
It also urged the Department of Social Welfare and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) to be formally engaged to support the student and monitor the case through to its conclusion.
The SRHR Advocates Network appealed to the public, media and school community to protect the identity and dignity of the student, warning against the publication or circulation of information that could identify her.
It described the incident as a wake-up call for school authorities to urgently identify and close safeguarding gaps across schools.
The Network said it was offering counselling support to the student and her family, as well as child protection capacity-building support to the school.
It added that it would continue to follow up on the matter and called on all relevant institutions to act with urgency to ensure justice and strengthen measures to make schools safe spaces for all children, particularly those with disabilities.
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