Systemic failure major cause of rising sexual abuse cases in Ghanaian schools – Women’s Advocate
Jaw-Haratu Amadu blames weak enforcement, poor monitoring and cultural attitudes for persistent sexual abuse in schools.
A women’s advocate and Head of Programmes at Rise-Ghana, Jaw-Haratu Amadu, has attributed rising concerns over sexual abuse in Ghanaian schools to systemic failures, legal challenges and cultural practices that enable such abuses to persist.
She said although the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the country’s legal framework had policies and reporting mechanisms to address sexual abuse, weak enforcement, inadequate monitoring and accountability remained major challenges.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday October 22, Amadu said many incidents of sexual abuse occurred without public knowledge, citing allegations of sexual abuse against the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) as an example.
According to her, the alleged incidents had occurred earlier in the year but attracted widespread public attention only after an investigative documentary brought them to light.
She stressed that sexual abuse was a criminal matter that required prompt reporting to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, cautioning against relying solely on internal investigative committees within institutions.
Amadu also identified cultural attitudes that normalise the sexualisation of women as a contributing factor to sexual abuse.
“In our culture, we have made women sexual properties of men. You see a woman passing, and people can make sexual comments about her, and it is seen as normal,” she said.
She described sexual abuse as not only a violation of the law but also an assault on human dignity, with far-reaching consequences for victims’ well-being and future prospects.
“It takes away their dignity and affects the future of victims,” she added.
Amadu called for the expedited investigation and prosecution of sexual abuse cases, urging the courts to ensure that persons found guilty received appropriate punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.
She further encouraged victims and witnesses to report incidents promptly to facilitate investigations and help preserve crucial evidence.
Amadu called on stakeholders, educational institutions and the general public to support efforts to combat sexual abuse and protect the dignity, safety and future of students in schools.
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