Editorial
Expose perpetratorsof domestic violence
MANY Ghanaian families have put protecting their public image ahead of protecting victims for decades, particularly when abuse is committed by family members or close associates.
Too many cases are being buried at the community level, with abusers protected while victims are pressured into silence.
To break the culture of silence that permits sexual abuse to flourish, a nationwide movement has been launched in Accra in order to challenge this deeply ingrained norm by urging communities to speak up, assist survivors, and demand responsibility.
The initiative was launched by Innova DDB Ghana, in collaboration with Family Renaissance International (FRI) and 3Music TV.
The programme, called “Call Them Out,” is a component of events commemorating the International Day of the Child, a global observance devoted to the protection and rights of children. Its goal is to address the long-ignored problem of family sexual abuse.
The truth is that this culture of concealment has long existed and allowed abuse to continue unchecked, but it is time “to call them out” due to the deceptive methods abusers use, the pain survivors experience, and the terrible shame that prevents victims from getting treatment.
As a result, The Spectator applauds the idea since it will help identify perpetrators so that appropriate action can be taken.
In a related development, November 25 is designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women every year in an effort to raise public awareness of the detrimental effects that violence against women has on people’s health.
The annual observance, designated by the United Nations General Assembly, is a period of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, observed from November 25 to December 10 since 1981.
This year’s campaign is on the theme: “Unite! End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”
It is unfortunate and sad that gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in Ghana.
What worsens the situation is that many victims of violence endure the persistence of sexual and physical abuse within families, a subject often shrouded in silence.
The Spectator calls on traditional authorities, religious leaders and community influencers to stop shielding perpetrators of gender-based violence and allow the law to work.
An enabling environment should be created to protect women and girls so they will feel safe in their own homes and be free from sexual violence.
The media should use their platforms to condemn abuse and intensify education, for no person should “die in silence’’ in a society that values dignity.
Additionally, we urge victims not to feel too intimidated to report, because support services are available to all, regardless of age or social status. Women, girls, men and boys should remain vigilant, support peers, and serve as advocates for early reporting and accountability.
We hope the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) will hasten the construction of shelters promised for the 16 regions to strengthen protection systems for survivors of abuse.
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Dear Editor,
The recent shooting to death of Javits Frimpong, a 15 year old Ghanaian student in Bronx, USA, is a heartbreaking reminder that bullying should never be dismissed as a normal part of growing up.
Reports indicate that the teenager had allegedly been subjected to bullying at school before he was fatally shot on his way to class.
While investigations continue and the exact motive yet to be officially established, the circumstances surrounding this tragedy have raised serious concerns about the impact of not checking bullying.
What makes this loss even more painful is that Javits Frimpong, had moved from Ghana to the United States with hopes of a brighter future through education. Instead, his life was cut short at an age when he should have been pursuing his dreams and preparing for adulthood.
Bullying is often viewed as harmless teasing, but its effects can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and, in extreme cases, become entangled in violence.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to schools everywhere. Complaints of bullying must be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and addressed decisively before situations escalate.
Parents, teachers, school authorities, and community leaders all share a responsibility to create safe environments for young people.
Open communication, counselling services, anti-bullying education, and effective disciplinary measures can help protect vulnerable students.
Equally important is teaching young people respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
As we mourn the loss of Javits Frimpong, let us also commit ourselves to ensuring that no other child loses their life because warning signs were ignored. The fight against bullying is not merely a school issue; it is a societal responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Dansoman
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The recent report that 294 teenage girls in the Ayawaso West Municipality failed to receive their Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a depressing reminder of the gap between medical progress and public trust.
In a focused campaign with 997 girls the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate reached a 70 percent coverage rate. Our public health professionals deserve praise for reaching 703 girls, but the remaining 30 percent pose a serious threat.
This shortfall is not due to a lack of institutional effort, logistics, or resources. The directorate had sufficient logistics, as highlighted by Public Health Nurse Patience Adoli Kporxah. Rather, the barrier was completely human: a lack of parental approval.
In Ghana, one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality for women is still cervical cancer. Ironically, it is also one of the most avoidable. The HPV vaccine is widely acknowledged as a safe, highly effective barrier that, when given early, can prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancers.
Parents are unknowingly leaving their daughters vulnerable to a virus that they will probably come into contact with in the future by withholding approval.
This initiative was not initiated in secret by the health directorate. They coordinated with churches, mosques, and media outlets, spoke at Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and sent letters to schools as part of their broad public outreach efforts. However, around 300 parents continued to withhold their signatures in spite of these multi-dimensional approaches.
Why is this resistance still present? Fear, cultural taboos, and false information about vaccines and reproductive health on the internet are the main causes of vaccine hesitation rather than an intent to hurt a child. When a vaccination is administered to young teenagers in schools, it may cause unjustified concerns about fertility and sexuality.
Our public health initiatives need to change in order to close this gap before the November and December phases.
Letters and the mass media are important, but they are unable to provide precise, worried answers. During PTA meetings, health staff could think about holding direct question and answer sessions so parents may express their worries without fear of being judged.
In order to normalise the vaccine, community elders, religious leaders, and reputable local physicians must do more than simply impart knowledge; they must openly support it.
We must present the HPV vaccine as a standard, life-saving cancer prevention tool that is now completely incorporated into Ghana’s regular immunisation programme.
The entrance is still open, according to public health officials. Daughters who did not participate in the school-based activity can still get the vaccination at no cost by taking them to any government health institution.
We must work together to prevent cervical cancer in the future generation. The infrastructure, education, and dosages have been supplied by public health teams. The trust must now be provided by the parents of Ayawaso West and Ghana as a whole.
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