Obuasi SHTS scandal: 3 students withdraw from engagement after hearing names in media – Gender Minister

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has called on the media to refrain from identifying the alleged victims of abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. She stated that such coverage is hindering her ministry's efforts to collaborate with the students and their families. After an engagement with some of the victims, Dr Lartey mentioned that several students have withdrawn from the ministry's initiatives due to their names and full identities being mentioned in the media.

Even when the victims' faces were covered, their voices and those of their friends and families were identifiable, causing distress. Dr Lartey emphasized that the situation is complicating the work, making it more challenging than usual. She urged journalists to be cautious in their reporting, remembering the people behind the stories and exercising restraint.

Additionally, the victims have been overwhelmed with numerous questions and repeated interview requests from journalists, which Dr Lartey believes is inappropriate at this stage. She suggested focusing on alternative reporting angles instead of directly approaching the children.