Sexual harassment has no place in educational institutions – Education Ministry

Harriet Krakani, Deputy Director of the Tertiary Directorate at the Ministry of Education, firmly stated that sexual harassment has no place in Ghana's educational institutions. She emphasized the importance of strengthening prevention, reporting, and support systems to safeguard students and staff, ensuring secure learning environments.

At a multi-tertiary stakeholder conference in Accra, Krakani stressed that sexual harassment erodes dignity and well-being, impacts students' and staff's educational experiences, and potentially undermines trust in institutions. She reiterated that government remains unequivocal in its stance against sexual harassment within educational settings.

The conference, organized by the Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation and Amplify Change, aimed at translating policy commitments into practical action. It focused on enhancing survivor-centered sexual harassment prevention and response in tertiary institutions. Attendees included representatives from various universities across Ghana. Krakani stressed that responses should proactively prevent harassment, encourage reporting, respect survivors' dignity and confidentiality, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Krakani highlighted that policies alone are not sufficient; their effectiveness hinges on proper implementation. She assured that the government, through her ministry and agencies, is steadfast in its commitment to enhancing safety and inclusivity within tertiary education. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) had developed guidelines for anti-sexual harassment policies, providing a framework for prevention, reporting, response, protection, and enforcement.

Krakani commended the organizers for challenging stakeholders to move beyond policies to practical action. She stressed that sexual harassment should be prevented, reported, addressed, and never normalized within tertiary institutions. The Ministry welcomed the survivor-centered approach being promoted, emphasizing that it places survivors' dignity, safety, needs, and choices at the forefront of institutional responses.

This approach requires institutions to listen to survivors, protect their confidentiality, provide appropriate support, and prevent further harm, stigma, or victimization.

Initiatives under this initiative include collaboration among Gender Centres, counselling units, and student leadership. Training first responders and campus human rights defenders and sharing institutional innovations are also being pursued. These interventions are crucial in turning policy commitments into tangible actions. Krakani urged institutions to take ownership of these interventions and integrate effective prevention and response mechanisms into their systems.

She emphasized the need for sustainable structures that would endure beyond individual projects and programmes. She stressed that no student should compromise personal safety for academic opportunities, and no faculty or staff should work in an environment where harassment and intimidation are tolerated.