By Caleb Kuleke, GNA
Ho, Sept.16, GNA – The Department of Gender has called on men and boys to act as key champions in building safer, and gender-responsive communities.
The Department urged them to drive meaningful changes by challenging harmful stereotypes, promoting equality, and working to prevent gender-based violence.
The call is rooted in the global recognition that actively involving men and boys is essential for achieving lasting progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and eradicating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Mrs. Thywill Eyra Kpe, the Volta Regional Director of the Department of Gender, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), following an engagement with drivers and Okada riders on the prevention of sexual violence in the Akatsi North District.
The programme was organised under the auspices of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Mrs. Kpe explained that by focusing on transport operators and young influencers, the programme strategically engaged key community figures who were well-positioned to challenge harmful gender norms and lead behavioral change.
She emphasised that fathers, influencers and community leaders played a vital role in fostering healthy relationships and encouraging responsible sexual and reproductive health practices.
Mrs. Kpe highlighted the legal protections available to minors under 16 years, women, and other vulnerable groups, urging men, boys, and the wider community to actively defend their rights.
She encouraged the participants to respect individual boundaries, understand the legal definitions of consent, and actively protect the women, children, and vulnerable groups in the society.
The Director outlined various forms of sexual violence including rape, defilement, incest, indecent assault, sexual harassment, and unnatural carnal knowledge and clarified the strict legal penalties associated with each.
Mrs. Kpe urged the participants to support their partners in accessing professional counseling and family planning services to promote family well-being
She reaffirmed that the Department of Gender, with support of the UNFPA, remained dedicated to engaging men and boys as proactive allies in building safer, healthier, and more equitable communities.
Ms. Matilda Awo Dorcoo, Public Health Nurse for the Akatsi North District, explained that family planning was not solely a women’s issue, but a critical social and economic decision for the entire family.
She outlined the health risks tied to unprotected sex, specifically highlighting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
The interactive session allowed participants to ask questions, share personal experiences, and ultimately pledge to serve as ambassadors for SRHR and SGBV prevention in their respective areas.
The dialogue also looked at family planning as a shared responsibility, and its importance in supporting healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, improving maternal and child health, and strengthening household financial stability.
This intervention in Akatsi North is part of a broader, structured campaign by the Department of Gender and the UNFPA to systematically engage men as positive forces for change, paving the way for safer and more equitable communities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah