By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, Feb. 24, GNA – ActionAid Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, has petitioned key state institutions to ensure swift, coordinated and survivor-centred action in a reported case involving a 14-year-old primary school girl who survived an alleged sexual abuse at Nyanshegu, a suburb of Tamale.
In a petition copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, and addressed to relevant authorities, the organisation expressed “profound concern and an unwavering sense of responsibility,” anchored in its mandate to advance women’s rights, child protection, and social justice.
The petition cited Section 101 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which stipulated that a person who has carnal knowledge of a child under 16 years, whether with or without the consent of the child, committed the offence of defilement and was liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than seven years and not more than 25 years.
The petition noted that the offence constituted a second-degree felony, and that prosecution was mandatory, with the consent of the child deemed immaterial, as established in the case of Republic v. Yeboah.
The petition hinted that, the survivor, a Primary Six pupil aged 14, reportedly experienced repeated abuse, which resulted in pregnancy.
It said available information indicated that on February 13, 2026, the girl did not return home from school, causing concern among family members until her return on February 15, 2026.
The petition explained that following disclosure by the survivor, the family was advised to report the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DoVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, where the appropriate medical documentation processes were initiated.
It said medical assessment reportedly confirmed that an attempt had been made to terminate the pregnancy prior to formal reporting, necessitating further clinical attention and treatment for the survivor.
While the matter was currently under investigation by the Police, ActionAid Ghana expressed concern over reports of attempts at informal mediation and possible discontinuation of the case within the community.
The petition emphasised that although traditional and faith leaders played important roles in promoting social harmony, offences involving minors constituted serious criminal offences that must be addressed through formal justice and child protection mechanisms in accordance with Act 29, the Children’s Act, the Juvenile Justice Act and Ghana’s international human rights commitments.
ActionAid Ghana, through the petition has called for swift, transparent, and survivor-sensitive investigations by the Police to ensure accountability and prevent impunity.
It also urged the Office of the Attorney-General to call for the docket of the case, study it and offer the necessary advice to ensure prompt prosecution of the alleged perpetrator.
The petition appealed for the immediate activation of integrated survivor support services, including medical care, psychosocial counselling, legal assistance and protective measures, coordinated through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and allied agencies.
It called on the Ghana Education Service to protect the survivor’s right to safe and uninterrupted education by facilitating counselling support, stigma prevention measures, and safe school reintegration pathways.
The petition also advocated reinforcement of child protection protocols at the community level, including clear guidance discouraging informal settlements in cases involving minors, and intensified public sensitisation on mandatory reporting and justice processes.
ActionAid Ghana reiterated its commitment to collaborate with government institutions to dismantle structures that enable violence against girls, amplify community vigilance for child protection and advance responsive systems that place the safety, dignity, and well-being of every child at the centre of national development.
It urged urgent attention and decisive, coordinated institutional action to secure justice, protection, and holistic recovery for the survivor, while strengthening Ghana’s broader child protection architecture.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Linda Asante Agyei