Obuasi SHTS: Plan International demands justice, nationwide school safeguarding reforms

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is encountering difficulties in working with victims of an alleged sexual abuse case at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). Three girls have reportedly dropped out of the engagement process due to media reports that disclosed their identities. The ministry claims that some students and their families have become unwilling to participate after media outlets mentioned the girls' full names, while others have been identified by friends and relatives despite attempts to shield their faces.

Gender Minister Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey has called on journalists to be cautious in their reporting, warning that revealing victims' identities could hinder their support and justice-seeking efforts. The minister stated that some girls withdrew after hearing their full names mentioned on a media platform, adding that this disclosure had also made it difficult for parents to continue engaging with the ministry.

Dr Lartey explained that even those whose faces were covered in media reports had been identified through their voices, making it challenging for officials to engage with the victims and their families during this sensitive time. The minister appealed to media organizations to consider the long-term consequences of their reporting and refrain from publishing details that could expose the identities of the students.

She emphasized that protecting the girls' identities is a collective responsibility and that any failure on the part of one group could impact the broader effort to achieve justice. The minister also expressed concern about the pressure some students had faced from journalists seeking interviews about their experiences, stating that the girls had been overwhelmed by the persistent questioning and media harassment.