Gender
Betrayal of trust: Understanding effects of abuse and assault on children
Mostly sexually abused victims are often abused by people they trust which can include family members, friends, acquaintances, or authority figures.
This makes it difficult for victims and the guardians to report the abuse or seek help as they may feel a sense of loyalty or obligation to the perpetrator.
Due to this sense of loyalty, many of such cases are either not reported to the police and are sometimes either settled at home with a little token as compensation or without it at all.
A typical case currently is that of Ransford, a 16-year-old footballer who is said to have been allegedly sodomised by the coach of his club, Siano Soccer Academy.
Unfortunately, Ransford died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, after battling with severe illness which was as a result of the sexual abuse he had endured for the past three years.
Many of such cases occur and often remain hidden because of the person who committed the crime and also because victims do not believe the justice system.
Abuse of trust can have profound impact on victims, making them feel vulnerable, betrayed and powerless.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) exist to provide free services to members of the public; protect the rights of the vulnerable against all forms of abuse be it physical, sexual, emotional and psychological, socio-economic, or harmful cultural practices; establish an effective database for crime detection, prevention and prosecution.
The Unit also refer victims for medical services and specialised help to clinical psychologists; social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and counsellors attached to the Unit.
In February 2015, the government of Ghana approved its new Child and Family Welfare Policy which aims at preventing and protecting children from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The effects of sexual assault on children can have devastating, long-lasting and profound effects on the lives of victims and their loved ones.
These people abuse the trust to sexually exploit or assault minors. They groom, coerce, and deceive children and teens into committing sexual acts in person or online.
A report by the Ghana Statistical Service 2011 states that over 90 per cent of children report having experienced physical violence, both at home and in the school environment.
A paper on culture and nondisclosure of child sexual abuse in Ghana on behalf of the American Bar Foundation and authored by Kofi E. Boakye said the concept of patriarchy and its relation to rape and violence against women in general was given greater prominence.
It said further to the concept of patriarchy, and its excesses are false beliefs about (child) sexual abuse and its victims, also likely to negatively influence the disclosure of child abuse.
According to the paper, culture remains a crucial site for the construction and perpetuation of these misconceptions or false beliefs.
United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
According to the UNICEF the financial burden of child abuse in Ghana was estimated at more than USD 200 million per year or one per cent of Ghana’s GDP.
The estimated total number of children who have been physically or emotionally abused was noted at 3.4 million in Ghana.
According to UNICEF, issues that impede the prevention of violence against children include social norms, accepting and promoting the use of violence in schools, homes and other institutions as an effective way to manage the behaviour of children, laws permitting the use of “reasonable” punishment by parents against children.
Also insufficient allocation of resources to prevention and response programmes in all spheres, inadequate capacity of key government actors – including social workers, teachers, police, prosecution and courts – to prevent and respond
Other factors include lack of timely and continuous specialised management of child protection cases of violence, cultural practices inhibiting the ability of survivors of violence to come forward, and poor quality of care given to survivors of violence, which may put them to greater risk.
In 2015, UNICEF and its partners produced a Child Protection Community Facilitation Manual and toolkits containing games and activities that are designed to stimulate community reflection on child protection issues and encourage local action.
In November 2017, UNICEF with support from the Government of Ghana launched the ‘Ghanaians Against Child Abuse’ (GACA) campaign, which runs in line with the government’s Child and Family Welfare and Justice for Children policies that are helping to strengthen the child protection system in Ghana.
The campaign is using various channels including social media, traditional media, mobile theatre to create awareness on child abuse issues whilst mobilising national support to provide a safe and protective environment for children.
It is anticipated that this movement will help change the narrative of how Ghanaians protect their children.
Breaking the silence around sexual abuse and assault is crucial to preventing crimes and supporting victims.
Talking about assault has its advantages although it might be difficult for the victims to identify them.
Breaking the silence, victims talking about their experience, sharing their suffering, understanding what happened to them and the impacts on their lives and establishing relationships based on trust can contribute to giving them tools to regain their confidence.
Also education plays a crucial role in preventing any form of child sexual abuse when a child is educated on the effects of sexual abuse it arms then as well as their parents, trusted adults and educators with crucial information to keep kids safe either at home or online.
It empowers the children and their guardians with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves.
Also, the fight against child abuse or assault transcends borders and requires collaboration between law enforcement, non-governmental organisations, parents and educators, and the public at large.
There is therefore the need for partnerships to amplify the impact of abuse and assault on children and need for a coordinated response to fight a crime of child sexual abuse.
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a Deputy Chief of Staff, has called for sustained legal and institutional reforms to address gender biases within Ghana’s justice system.
She urged women lawyers to build on the legacy of trailblazers who have shaped the country’s legal landscape.
Madam Bampoe Addo made the call at the maiden Biennial Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum, organised in collaboration with the Ghana School of Law in Accra on Tuesday.
The event was on the theme: “The role of women lawyers in national development: honouring trailblazers.”
Madam Bampoe Addo said the progress made by women in the legal profession was not accidental but the result of years of struggle, sacrifice and determination.
She paid tribute to early trailblazers such as Matilda Foster and Annie Jiagge, saying their achievements broke barriers and opened doors for generations of women lawyers.
She commended the contributions of female judicial leaders, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, and Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, whose leadership reflected the growing influence of women in Ghana’s judiciary.
Women lawyers had made significant contributions across multiple sectors, including the courtroom, academia, policy development, civil society advocacy and community engagement.
Madam Bampoe Addo noted that their efforts had advanced gender equality, strengthened institutions and improved access to justice in the country.
She expressed concern about the persistent gender biases within the justice system, particularly in some judicial pronouncements that could undermine the dignity of women.
The courts, she noted, must not only deliver justice but must also communicate it in a manner that upheld respect and fairness for all parties.
“There is undervaluation of women’s unpaid domestic labour, including caregiving responsibilities, which are often overlooked in legal determinations, especially in matrimonial cases,” she added.
She called for a more progressive and context-sensitive approach to adjudication, drawing on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions to ensure fairness and equity.
Madam Bampoe Addo urged legal practitioners and judges to build on progressive legal precedents and ensure that Ghana’s legal system evolved to reflect contemporary social realities.
She emphasised the importance of mentorship and inclusivity, encouraging women in leadership to create opportunities for others and support the next generation of female lawyers.
She called on young women to pursue legal careers with confidence, adding that the profession offered vast opportunities to contribute to national development.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor, the Director-General of CID, said women lawyers played indispensable roles in shaping Ghana’s legal and governance systems.
They had excelled in various fields and occupied key leadership positions, contributing to policy reforms and championing justice for vulnerable groups, she added.
COP Donkor paid tribute to trailblazing women lawyers whose achievements continued to inspire and motivate younger generations to strive for excellence.
She urged students and young practitioners to go beyond academic successes and embrace the broader mission of promoting justice, fairness and societal transformation.
She encouraged more women lawyers to consider careers in the Ghana Police Service, describing law enforcement as a critical area where legal expertise was needed to strengthen justice delivery.
She commended the organisers of the conference for the success, saying it would encourage the next generation of women lawyers to continue to make significant contributions to Ghana’s development. – GNA
The Dzidula Pink Foundation has engaged expectant mothers on cervical cancer at a recent pregnancy clinic held at St Gregory Hospital, Budumburam in the Awutu Senya East District.
The engagement formed part of its advocacy on early cancer detection to safeguard maternal health.
It also formed part of the foundation’s broader mission to raise awareness about cancers affecting women, particularly at a time when many may be least likely to consider screening especially pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Addressing a gathering of pregnant women at the clinic, the president of the foundation, Ms Fafa Gozo, highlighted a worrying trend where a significant number of women are diagnosed with cancer around the time of delivery.
This, she noted, often results from delayed screening and limited awareness about the importance of early detection.
She educated the women about the need to prioritise their health by undertaking timely cancer screening, even while navigating the demands of pregnancy.
She reiterated that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality.
“Pregnancy should not be a reason to delay screening. In fact, it is a critical period where heightened awareness can save lives,” Ms Gozo said.
The engagement also created a platform for open dialogue, allowing the expectant mothers to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance from health professionals present at the clinic.
Health experts at the facility echoed the foundation’s message, underscoring that routine checks and screenings, when done early, can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes for both mother and child.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
