By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, April 30, GNA – Child Rights International, Ghana has called for the establishment of specialised child protection courts and units to expedite the handling of child abuse cases across the country.
The organisation also advocated for the introduction of mandatory timelines for the investigation and adjudication of child protection cases, to reduce delays that often hamper justice for victims.
The recommendations stem from a research study titled “Perfidy of Justice Against Children: Evidence from Child Abuse Cases in Ghana,” presented by Mr. Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child Rights International, Ghana.
The study, which covered 10 regions and 193 communities, analysed 899 child abuse cases reported during the 2025-2026 period, highlighting the prevalence of cases left unresolved in the justice system and their detrimental impact on child victims.
Mr. Appiah revealed that 23 types of abuse were identified in the study, with defilement remaining the most common offence, accounting for 59.4 per cent of all reported cases.
Other significant forms of abuse included assault, indecent assault, abduction, emotional abuse, rape, neglect, child marriage, and child trafficking.
Mr. Appiah emphasised that delays in processing cases not only exacerbated the harm to victims but also undermined public trust in the country’s child protection mechanisms.
“We also call for the development of a national digital case tracking system to improve transparency, accountability, and the effective monitoring of cases from reporting to final judgment,” he said.
GNAÂ Â
Edited by Kenneth SackeyÂ
Reported by Jesse Ampah Owusu Â
[email protected]Â Â Â