Former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s adviser on gender and social protection, Akosua Manu, has called for the establishment of a national sex offenders’ register as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s response to sexual violence and prevent repeat offences.
She said a properly structured register would enable relevant authorities to identify and monitor convicted sexual offenders, improve accountability and strengthen measures to protect potential victims.
The proposal comes amid growing public concern over sexual abuse and harassment, including allegations involving vulnerable people and students in educational institutions.
Ms Manu argued that giving relevant authorities access to reliable information on convicted offenders could help them assess risks, improve monitoring and take preventive action against further abuse.
She said the initiative could form part of broader efforts to improve public safety and ensure that sexual offences are addressed through stronger institutional and legal mechanisms.
However, establishing such a register would require a clear legal framework to determine the categories of offenders to be listed, the authorities permitted to access the information and the duration of their inclusion.
Measures would also be needed to ensure that records remain accurate, protect victims’ identities and prevent the misuse of sensitive personal information.
The proposed register would therefore need to balance public protection and offender accountability with appropriate privacy safeguards and legal protections.
Ms Manu’s call adds to ongoing discussions about strengthening Ghana’s systems for preventing sexual violence, protecting survivors and ensuring that convicted offenders are held accountable.
