Teach consent and sexual boundaries from pre-school to prevent abuse – Gender advocate

Educator and gender advocate, Dr Abena Nyarkoa, has advocated for teaching sexual consent and boundaries from preschool onward to combat school-based sexual abuse. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, she emphasized the importance of educating children about self-autonomy and setting boundaries from an early age. Dr Nyarkoa's remarks came as part of a conversation about allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School involving the headmaster and female students.

In addition to education, Dr Nyarkoa stressed the need for parents to maintain open communication with their children and create opportunities for them to discuss sensitive topics. She urged parents to involve themselves in efforts to prevent sexual abuse, alongside school-based measures and accountability. "Parents must have a conversation with their children. If a teacher is overly friendly, why?" she asked.

Furthermore, Dr Nyarkoa called for the appointment of a designated female officer to serve as a coach and mentor for girls, providing guidance and a safe space for them to express concerns. She also recommended the presence of a designated safeguarding officer on-site, preferably a woman, to help girls who may be experiencing abuse. These steps should be backed by clear policies for handling allegations and taking appropriate action against those found responsible.

Dr Nyarkoa warned that failing to hold perpetrators accountable contributed to the normalization of sexual abuse in schools. Earlier, she had cautioned that the lack of accountability was part of the problem, enabling abuse to become more accepted. The conversation took place amid rising reports of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, with the number of students alleging abuse increasing to 16.