Dela Edem cautions against politicisation of Obuasi SHTS alleged sexual abuse

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has sent an advance team to Obuasi, in Ghana's Ashanti Region, to assist students allegedly affected by sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. The team, consisting of experts from the Department of Social Welfare, Domestic Violence Secretariat, and Department of Children, arrived on October 21 to evaluate the immediate and long-term needs of the affected students.

Their objective is to coordinate interventions aimed at supporting the students' recovery, with a focus on their safety, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality. The team will engage with students, their families, and relevant stakeholders to identify support service gaps and respond accordingly. Medical assessments will be performed by qualified professionals, and referrals to health and mental health services will be made as needed.

The Ministry emphasized the importance of sustained care and support for the students' emotional and psychological well-being, as sexual abuse can have long-lasting effects on their education, self-confidence, and future prospects. The Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Police Service, and other partners to identify weaknesses in school safeguarding systems, enhance preventive measures, and improve reporting and response mechanisms.

They urged the public to respect the affected students' privacy during the ongoing investigation and warned against actions that could further harm them. The Ministry reiterated that sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence against children are unacceptable and emphasized the collective responsibility of school authorities, parents, caregivers, and the public to report suspected abuse promptly.