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12 teachers trained on Gender-Based Violence in schools
Twelve teachers from 10 schools in the Greater Accra Region have been trained as gender advocates to help fight Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within their schools.
This training formed part of the “Young voices matter: empowering boys and girls in the fight against GBV” project, led by Regina Asamoah, an International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) Impact Awardee.
It covered essential aspects of GBV, including understanding its dynamics, recognising psychological impacts, leveraging technology for intervention, and employing age-appropriate communication strategies.
Speaking at the event, ACP (Rtd.) Dr. Patience Quaye, a U.S. Embassy Ghana GBV Champion and Fellow of Missing Children Ghana, said gender-based violence was a crime against humanity, hence the need to educate learners, support survivors, and ensure that perpetrators face justice.
She also addressed the potential for teachers to be perpetrators and highlighted the importance for school to have policies and procedures for reporting and addressing such incidents.
A Clinical Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), Dr Dzifa Abrah Attah, guided the teachers in identifying psychological traits in learners that may indicate they are experiencing GBV and taught them how to provide emotional and psychological support.
Dr Attah encouraged teachers to familiarise themselves with their school’s mental health resources, consider referrals, follow up on them, and provide academic accommodations during students’ recovery.
Prof. Samuel Kojo Kwofie, Head of the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Ghana, educated teachers on the use of technology to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Prof. Kwofie said there were Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which includes cyber stalking, cyberbullying, doxxing (searching for and publishing private or identifying information about a particular individual on the internet, typically with malicious intent), cyber mob attacks, image-based abuse, online impersonation, sextortion (a form of online blackmail where the typically unknown offender creates a fake online profile and tricks or coerces the victim into sending sexual images of themselves), online harassment, revenge porn.
TFGBV is a kind of digital violence committed and amplified through the use of information and communications, technologies or digital spaces against a person based on gender.
“Many of our students may be experiencing TFGBV, and we need to be vigilant, especially given that almost every student has a phone and spends a significant amount of time online,” he said.
Prof. Kwofie advocated the development of locally relevant apps tailored to address the specific manifestations of GBV in schools.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
