Reported cases of sexual abuse, violence in schools worrying

The acting National Programmes Coordinator of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Mrs Melody Darkeh, has expressed concern over what she described as the rate of reported cases of sexual abuse and violence in some schools in the country. 

She also said the reported cases of child abuse, including defilement cases and child marriage, that had dominated the media over the years were a source of concern.

Mrs Darkeh expressed the concern at the inauguration of an empowerment club for girls in Accra to discuss their adolescent challenges and prevent violence being meted out to them.

The initiative, sponsored by Crossroads International and TT Brothers Company Limited and introduced at the St Barnabas Anglican School in Accra, seeks to empower the girls with knowledge on children’s rights, domestic violence, gender-based violence, peer counselling and sexual abuse.

Statistics from DOVVSU

Statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service showed that a total of 1,296 girls in the country were defiled, while 335 women were raped in 2014.

According to Mrs Darkeh, the club would facilitate discussions on adolescent sexual reproductive health, healthy relationships, life and leadership skills to help them fight against gender-based violence in schools and communities.

The Director in charge of the Girls Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service, Mrs Catherine Mikado, said matters concerning girls should not be downplayed, and asked parents to come up with new ideas to help train their children, especially the girl-child.

She said this was not to say boys were not important but rather both should be given equal opportunities to enable girls to get educated to the highest levels just like boys so they could be culturally, economically and politically empowered.

Advice to parents

Mrs Mikado advised parents to entreat their girls to achieve their dreams by giving them proper education and encouragement and allow the club to impact positively on them.

The Chief Executive Officer of Totally Youth and the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) parliamentary aspirant for Korle Klottey, Ms Eva Lokko, said women should unite and help develop the nation.

She expressed regret that early childhood marriage had brought about poverty because it deprived the girl-child of the needed education to enable her to impact society, and asked stakeholders to ensure that perpetrators were dealt with.

The Deputy Coordinator for Social Welfare Department, Mr Godwin Mensah, said giving children the right to have good education, good health, as well as shelter, was critical for children’s development, and urged parents to be responsible and provide them with those necessities.

The club has branches in Wegbe Kpalime in the Volta Region, Nkran Nkresi and Kyinaso in the Central Region, Osu Presbyterian Preparatory and LEKMA 10 & 12 Basic School in the Greater Accra Region.

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |