BY Josephine Pokuaa Asare, Executive Director, HERfrica Policy Institute
The Executive Director of HERfrica Policy Institute, Josephine Pokuaa Asare, has called on Ghanaian authorities to strengthen measures to protect women and children, insisting that allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School must be investigated thoroughly and handled with urgency.
She said the developments surrounding the Obuasi school case, alongside the arrest and subsequent bail granted to a nurse from Techiman over allegations of publishing false news, had raised important questions about consistency, accountability and public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.
In an opinion article titled *”Our Women and Children Deserve Better,”* Ms Asare argued that although the two cases involved different circumstances and must be treated independently, the public concerns they had generated required institutions to demonstrate fairness, transparency and equal commitment to protecting citizens.
The nurse, Salomey Awiti Baffoe, reportedly spent nearly three weeks in custody before being granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 over allegations connected to the publication of false news. She has pleaded not guilty, and the case remains subject to judicial determination.
Meanwhile, the suspended headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, who is facing allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 female students, has been granted self-recognisance bail as investigations into the matter continue.
Ms Asare stressed that the rights of accused persons must be respected and that nobody should be presumed guilty before the evidence has been examined. However, she maintained that the safety and welfare of potential victims, particularly children, must not be relegated to the background.
Focusing on the allegations involving the 19 students, the HERfrica Executive Director said the number represented young girls whose education, dignity and future deserved protection.
She noted that the students had gone to school to pursue their education and should not have to live in fear within an institution entrusted with their safety.
According to her, allegations involving multiple students require prompt, independent and comprehensive investigations, with authorities taking appropriate steps to protect complainants from intimidation, retaliation and unnecessary public exposure.
She also condemned the practice of blaming or discrediting girls who report sexual abuse before investigations have established the facts.
Ms Asare argued that a complainant’s background or personal circumstances should never determine whether allegations of abuse are taken seriously, insisting that evidence must remain the basis for determining the truth.
“Our girls should not have to fight for the right to feel safe in their own schools,” she stated.
Questions Over Consistency in Justice Delivery
The HERfrica Executive Director further raised concerns about public perceptions of how different cases are handled within the justice system.
She acknowledged that separate cases may require different legal procedures and that bail should neither be interpreted as proof of innocence nor an indication of guilt.
However, she maintained that allegations involving children demand careful risk assessments, timely investigations and appropriate protective arrangements while legal proceedings continue.
She called on the police and prosecutorial authorities to ensure that credible allegations are thoroughly investigated and that potential victims and witnesses are protected throughout the process.
Where investigations experience delays, she said the public deserves appropriate explanations to strengthen confidence in the justice system.
Ms Asare also urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to protecting women and children through concrete interventions rather than statements issued only when sensitive cases attract public attention.
Education Authorities Urged to Strengthen School Safety
Turning her attention to the education sector, Ms Asare called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to review and strengthen safeguarding arrangements in schools across the country.
She said parents entrusted schools with the welfare of their children and expected teachers, administrators and other school authorities to provide safe environments for learning.
According to her, the Ministry of Education and GES must establish accessible reporting channels, strengthen institutional oversight and ensure that complaints involving school personnel are handled professionally and independently.
She further called for appropriate protective measures whenever credible concerns about student safety arise, stressing that such interventions should not be interpreted as prejudging the outcome of investigations.
The HERfrica Executive Director also emphasised the need to provide affected students with counselling, medical care and educational assistance to help them cope with the consequences of their experiences.
While welcoming the Education Ministry’s announced support for the 19 students, she insisted that such assistance must be sustained and accompanied by credible investigations and accountability.
“These girls deserve more than sympathy. They deserve protection, support and justice,” she stressed.
The organisation is demanding comprehensive investigations into the allegations at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, including efforts to identify and address any institutional failures that may have contributed to the situation.
It is also calling for stronger safeguarding policies in schools, with clear reporting procedures, effective oversight mechanisms and enforceable measures to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation.
On survivor support, the institute wants affected students to receive sustained counselling, medical attention and educational assistance while ensuring that their privacy and dignity are protected.
Additionally, it has called for an end to victim-blaming, urging authorities and the public to treat sexual abuse complaints seriously and ensure that complainants are not subjected to shame, intimidation or retaliation.
