Gender
Sexual Assault Awareness Month …A call to action
Her mother noticed she was not bubbly as she used to when she returned from school on Friday afternoon.
Dzidzor kept to herself throughout the rest of the day and refused to have lunch or dinner with the family.
Before her mother went to bed, she went to see her daughter in her room only to see her soaked in her own tears and could not get out as she tried to help her out of bed.
Dzidzor’s mother called for help to lift her 13-year old daughter out of bed. And as her oldest son run into the room, Dzidzor passed out.
As they lifted her from the bed, they noticed she was soaked in blood.
Earlier on her way home, Dzidzor was ambushed and defiled by two of her seniors in school who had been making advances at her for the past four months.
Dzidzor’s story mirrors the plight victims of sexual assault go through and the need for parents, teachers, and non-governmental organisations to tackle the issue and its associated challenges heads on.
Globally the month of April is celebrated as the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
This year, the campaign would be marked on the theme ‘Together we act, united we change,’ and highlights the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an opportunity to listen to and honour survivors in our community and show those impacted by sexual violence that they are not alone.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines sexual violence as any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), one in seven aged between 15-49 have experience sexual violence at some point in their lives according to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS).
The report states that six per cent of women aged 15 and 49 experienced sexual violence within 12 months preceding the survey.
This finding is an indication of prevalence of human right abuse in the country which requires stringent measures to address.
It also mentioned that sexual violence can be experienced by every woman aged 15-49 years irrespective of one’s marital status; the proportions however, vary across different categories.
Over 53 per cent of women and over 29 per cent of men reported experiencing sexual violence (Chen, et al., 2023).
Sexual assault or violence impacts everyone and anyone can be a victim of sexual violence. People who commit such atrocities exist in communities.
Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact including sexual abuse, assault, harassment, unwanted sexual contact or touching, exploitation and trafficking, exposing one’s genitals or naked body to other without consent, nonconsensual image sharing or coercion, words and actions of sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent.
Sexual assault or violence can stem out of privilege and power, tolerance of abuse, unsatisfied sexual desires, patriarchal norms and corruption.
Everyone in each community, whether at the workplace, school, deserves to live in safe and supportive environments where they are treated with respect.
In tackling assault or violence, education is the first step to action. In education, empowering various communities to be part of the solution is key.
The Ghanaian Times newspaper reported that the Civic Education Officer of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs Phebemary Makafui Adodo-Samani, has proposed the adoption of April as Sexual Violence Awareness Month in Ghana.
This according to her would help educate the public, especially children, about the devastating effects of sexual violence and promote a culture of consent.
“As the world observes April as Sexual Violence Awareness Month, I will urge Ghana to also adopt this international event as a national awareness campaign to raise awareness about sexual violence and abuse just like we do in October to raise awareness about Breast Cancer and it working positively,” she said.
Mrs Adodo-Samani made the call at a seminar organised by the Accra Technical University in partnership with “I Believe Global” in Accra last Friday to mark the International Women’s Day.
In March 2018, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore says it was committed to tackling all forms of sexual misconduct and sexual violence.
According to her, it continuously strives to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and to improve the safety of the people, especially in settings where the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse rises.
She said UNICEF’s goal was always to be zero victims of sexual exploitation and abuse but said it was harder to address an unreported case than a reported case.
Ms Fore said it takes measures to protect those who report, to assist victims, to address the individual accountability of perpetrators, and to learn from mistakes.
“We have enhanced our investigation process to ensure that reports of sexual misconduct can be promptly investigated, even if the victim does not file a formal complaint,” she said.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Gender
Parents urged to provide moral guidance to help children transition to adulthood
North Hill International School (NIS), a basic school situated at North Legon in Accra has held its 6th Speech and Prize-Giving Day with a call on parents and guardians to provide the needed moral guidance and support for children to become responsible and disciplined adults in society.
The Guest Speaker for the occasion, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State and Government Communication who made the call in a speech read on his behalf, said this stage was crucial for children to learn values that enable them become responsible members of the family unit, their immediate environment and the country at large.
Themed: “Discipline- The bridge between dreams and reality” the event saw 36 learners in total graduating comprising primary and lower secondary.
Master Vielung Kwadwo Bagbin, son of Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, emerged overall best student.
Mr Ofosu said their formative stage was an age where good habits, behaviours and characters were built which lay a solid foundation for their lives.
In an address, the Principal of the School, Mrs Emma Coleman Opoku, said the school reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence as demonstrated by the outstanding performance of pupils in the 2025 Cambridge Checkpoint Examinations.
She described the outcome as result of tireless efforts from passionate teachers, the determination and diligence of pupils and the support of parents.
Over the years, she said, NIS has made remarkable strides in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations, consistently raising academic standards and producing outstanding results.
According to her, last year, the school recorded exceptional achievements including ten grade ones with two pupils attaining eight grade ones and another achieving six grade ones.
“Despite these successes, we have observed a decline in interest and enrollment in the GES curriculum,” she said.
The Principal indicated that, after careful examination and in light of current enrollment figures, the school has decided to suspend the GES curriculum temporarily.
On her part, the General Manager of the school, Mrs Bernice Adu Boateng, expressed gratitude to teachers for their dedication and professionalism and the invaluable role of parents which has brought the school thus far.
Come September, she said the school would roll out digital boards to complement the use of projectors and desktops in every classroom to infuse the use of technology to enhance facilitator-learner activities.
In a Global Perspective Project titled, “ Acting on Poverty and Inequality “, Year 7 pupils of the school raised an amount of GH₵17,530 to support the cause and donated used personal effects to Potter’s Village.
The Administrator and Human Resources Manager of the school, Mrs. Bertha Boamah Benin, expressed profound appreciation to companies and individuals that supported the event.
By Francis Cofie
Gender
Take control of your financial future …female students urged
Mrs. Janet Acheampong Otoo, Treasurer of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), has urged young women to take control of their financial future by embracing literacy, confidence, and purposeful planning.
Speaking at the university’s Financial Literacy Summit over the weekend, she emphasized that “money is power” and that women must be empowered with the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions.
The summit, organised by the Student Representative Council, was held under the theme “Financial Fitness: Building wealth and securing your future.”
Mrs Acheampong Otoo explained that financial literacy was more than budgeting—”it encompasses saving, investing, and managing debt”.
However, she noted that many women still struggle due to a confidence gap that hinders their ability to create and follow effective financial plans.
“Financial independence is about freedom, confidence, and the ability to pursue your dreams,” she said. “As women, we have the power to shape our own futures and contribute meaningfully to society and family life.”
She encouraged female students to attend workshops, read widely, and avoid impulsive spending on beauty and lifestyle. “Every financial decision should align with your long-term vision,” she added. “Believe in yourself. Lead the charge.”
Joining the conversation, the Municipal Chief Executive of Sekyere South, Mr Evans Amo Twumasi, called financial literacy one of the most overlooked foundations in nation-building.
“In today’s world, the line between economic survival and financial freedom is drawn not by luck but by knowledge and discipline,” Mr Amo said. “Money may be finite, but knowledge is infinite—and financial discipline is the bridge between them.”
He stressed that financial fitness was not just about saving or spending, but understanding the value of a cedi, the cost of each decision, and the power of forward planning. With the right mindset and habits, he said, anyone can achieve economic resilience and long-term success.
Mr Amo urged students to embrace financial education as a tool for personal transformation and national progress. “The future does not belong to those who merely wish for wealth—it belongs to those who plan it, save it, and work for it,” he said.
He also called for policies that strengthen entrepreneurship and youth empowerment and encouraged students to respect money and use it with purpose.
Other speakers included Dr Evans Duah, Dr Prince Gyimah and Prof. Joseph Mbawuni, all lecturers at the University.
From Kingsley E. Hope
