The Headquarters of Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken over investigation into alleged sexual harassment at Benkum Senior High School in Akuapem Larteh in Eastern region.
GES has meanwhile directed headmaster of of the School, Emmanuel Nyarko, accused of sexually abusing some 15 female students to step aside.
GES officials investigating the alleged sexual abuse last week administered questionaire to all female students in the school to collect data on the suspected cases of sexual abuse and various gender based violence.
The cover of the headmaster was blown when he started persecuting some teachers who openly criticized his sexual misconducts.
He subsequently initiated arbitrary mass transfers of the 15 teachers.
A study conducted by the Girls Excellence Movement (GEM) in 2019 to explore and highlight underlying challenges affecting girls’ education in Ghana revealed that 52% female students were abused sexually .
The study involved 2,000 girls across 15 schools located within four regions in southern Ghana – Greater Accra, Volta, Central and Eastern – from February 2019 to September 2021, and said the situation has caused depression, trauma, panic-attacks and anxiety among the students, and is having a toll on their education and wellbeing.
It added that according to the girls, individuals who sexually abuse them include teachers, schoolmates, friends, uncles and family-friends.
In light of this, GEM recommended deliberate girl-focused institutional reforms in the education sector, especially in the area of guidance and counselling units within pre-tertiary institutions.
“Over 50 percent of girls have been sexually abused; in view of this finding, we wish to propose a review of Chapter Six of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (ACT 29) to include provisions aimed at prevention, victim protection, retribution and awareness-creation to eliminate sexual assault – against not only girls but boys as well. We are appealing for government to make the acquisition of medical reports free for victims of gender-based violence, especially rape victims, to facilitate the justice delivery process,” it added
Source:Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
