Child sexual abuse victims tell their stories
You can call me Akosua (not my real name) I am in Junior High School Form One. My parents have separated so I live with my grandmother.
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Since my grandma cannot walk, anytime she sends me I make sure I return on time. So when grandma sent me one evening, a guy called me while I was on my way but I refused to respond to his call.
Before I realised, he grabbed me and covered my mouth with his palm, dragged me into an uncompleted building and raped me.
I was not able to tell my grandma about it but when I went to school the next day I couldn’t help but cry the entire period. When my teacher asked what was wrong, I narrated the incident to her.
The case was reported to the police and my parents were called in but my mother insisted that they should forget about the case because the rapist had pleaded for forgiveness. My parents collected some money from the boy’s parents and did not pursue the case any longer.
Now live with my mother. Through International Needs I have been educated on what to do when I am abused sexually. I have been advised to report any case of rape to the nearest police station immediately and make sure the perpetrator is dealt with according to the law.
I am Millie, I dropped out of school when I was in JHS Two. This was after my mum who was the breadwinner died. During the period, a 29-year-old man who was assisting me after my mother’s death took advantage of me by having sex with me.
I got pregnant and, therefore, had to drop out of school at the age of 14. After giving birth, I moved to Accra to live with my sister. I sold ‘pure water’ to take care of myself.
While selling ‘pure water,’ men proposed to me and I had relationships with some of them but after a short time they complained they could no longer take care of me and my baby.
Things became difficult for me and I was introduced to International Needs, a non-governmental organisation (NGO). I was screened for various diseases and later the NGO bought me a sewing machine and other things I needed to learn a vocation. I have sent my daughter back to my paternal grandmother.
International Needs has registered me with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and gives me money while I learn a trade. I am very grateful to International Needs.
Stephanie, 19, dropped out of school when she was in final year in senior high school. This is her story.
My dad had glaucoma and, therefore, could not work while my mum owed many banks as a result of loans she had collected and was also not working at the time. So going back to school became difficult. There was a man in our house who promised to help me.
He gave me money for school but later he requested for sex. When I told my friends, they advised me to give in to him because if I didn’t, I would seem ungrateful.
I heeded their advice and since I had an irregular menstrual period I did not notice I was pregnant until the sixth month. My mum was angry because she had warned me so many times against relationships with men, especially when she saw me with that man.
However, she forgave me and took care of me when the man ran away. I couldn't go back to school. After I gave birth, my mum's friend introduced me to International Needs.
With the help of the NGO, I was able to return to school. I completed senior high school this year. International Needs has registered me with the National Health Insurance Scheme.
I wanted to be a lawyer in future but due to our financial difficulties I have changed my mind and want to become a journalist.
I have learnt my lesson the bitter way and do not trust friends any longer.
Now, I have made my mum my close friend and confidante so I discuss anything that bothers me with her.