Accra, Oct. 31, GNA – Soroptimist International, an organisation of professional and business women, has called for justice for victims of the alleged sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).
In a shared with the Ghana News Agency, the organisation condemned the alleged conduct of the school’s headmaster, Mr Zakaria Abdulai, and called for systemic reforms to protect children in schools.
“We stand with the learners: While this case involves girls, our call for safety protects all children – girls and boys. Every child has the right to be safe in school,” it said.
The organisation expressed solidarity with the students of Obuasi SHTS and commended them for their courage in speaking out on the matter.
It appealed to stakeholders to provide psychosocial support and legal assistance to the victims while ensuring their protection against retaliation.
Soroptimist International also called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the prosecution of all those found culpable.
“Rape and sexual assault are serious crimes. We call on the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate and prosecute where the evidence warrants,” therelease said.
It urged the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to ensure that adults who engaged in sexual relations with learners were prosecuted and barred from teaching and other appointments within the Service.
The organisation said the practice of transferring teachers accused of sexual misconduct instead of holding them accountable, as well as using students as domestic helpers in staff homes, must end.
It further called for schools to appoint trained child protection and safeguarding officers to receive complaints confidentially, respond promptly and link victims to appropriate support services.
“The education of a girl is the empowerment of a nation. When a child’s safety in school is violated, their future is stolen.
“We cannot accept a culture of silence and impunity, especially when victims are poor, ordinary children facing powerful figures,” the release added.
The organisation also urged the media to refrain from the unethical practice of revealing the identities of alleged victims.
Soroptimist International Ghana seeks to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and the creation of opportunities.
It has clubs in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Drussia-Takoradi.
Its vision is to enable women and girls to realise their individual and collective potential, achieve their aspirations and have equal voices in building strong and peaceful communities worldwide.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe