Beyond Obuasi: Who Is Protecting Ghana’s Girls?

Aya Institute calls for a national audit of sexual abuse safeguards, institutional accountability and stronger survivor protection.

The Aya Institute for Women, Politics and Media expresses its profound outrage and concern over allegations of sexual abuse of female students by the Headmaster at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, brought to national attention by the investigative work of Manasseh Azure Awuni and JoyNews. We commend the courage of those who have spoken out and the journalists who brought these concerns to light. We welcome steps towards investigation and accountability, while emphasising the need to protect survivors.

The Obuasi allegations raise a question far bigger than one school: are Ghana’s institutions preventing abuse, responding promptly to complaints and holding those entrusted with children’s safety accountable? Across the country, reports of sexual exploitation and violence against girls and women expose the risks created when complaints are dismissed, survivors silenced or institutional reputations placed above their protection.

A protection system cannot depend on investigative journalists to uncover abuse before authorities act. The test of our laws and policies is whether they work when a girl first asks for help.

OUR CALL FOR URGENT NATIONAL ACTION

1. Independent safeguarding audit. The Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service, with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and independent experts, should audit school systems for prevention, confidential reporting, referrals, investigations, redress and monitoring. The audit must establish when protocols were last reviewed, whether staff are trained and how compliance is verified.
2. Public reporting of complaints and outcomes. GES should publish an anonymised report covering at least five years of sexual abuse complaints, investigations, disciplinary measures,police referrals and unresolved cases, with appropriate privacy protections. The public must be able to assess how institutions respond, not merely whether policies exist.
3. Accountability beyond alleged offenders. Independent inquiries must examine whether complaints were ignored, concealed or mishandled, and whether officials failed in their safeguarding duties. Transferring accused staff must never replace investigation, protective measures or lawful referral.
4. Clear, enforceable reporting and survivor support. Every school must have accessible and independent reporting channels, prompt referrals to child protection and law enforcement, protection against retaliation, and pathways to medical, psychosocial and legal assistance. Staff and students must know these procedures.
5. A legally regulated sex offenders register. Government should consider a national register for persons convicted of specified sexual offences, with lawful background-screening arrangements for roles involving children and vulnerable persons, and robust safeguards for due process and privacy.
6. Independent monitoring and measurable reform. Relevant public bodies and civil society should establish periodic compliance reviews, publish corrective actions and monitor whether reported cases are handled appropriately.

A DIRECT CALL TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

We call on the Ministry of Education, GES and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to issue a coordinated public account of existing safeguards: What procedures govern prevention, reporting, redress and monitoring? When were they last evaluated? How were they applied to complaints? What data and annual reports are available? We ask the responsible authorities to announce, within 30 days, a time-bound plan for an independent audit and public reporting.

We stand with survivors and support peaceful public solidarity, including the Red Wednesday initiative. But solidarity must lead to lasting reform. Protecting girls is not an act of goodwill; it is a measurable duty of governance.

Justice for the girls of Obuasi must mean stronger protection for every girl in Ghana. The silence, impunity and institutional failures must end.

Issued by:
Chief Gender Officer
Aya Institute for Women, Politics and Media