Former Deputy Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Dr. Freda Prempeh, has issued a strong call for collective national action to protect children from abuse, following the circulation of a disturbing video showing a child being subjected to brutal assault.
Reacting to the viral footage in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Duayaw-Nkwanta, Dr. Prempeh expressed deep concern about the continued mistreatment of children, stressing that they are not property but individuals with rights deserving of protection and dignity.
While commending the Ghana Police Service for swiftly arresting two suspects linked to the abuse, Dr. Prempeh insisted that systemic efforts were needed to end what she described as one of the gravest forms of human rights violations.
As the founder of the Ultimate Women Foundation (UWF), an NGO focused on empowering vulnerable women and girls, Dr. Prempeh noted that many victims, particularly in remote and underserved communities, continue to suffer in silence. She said child abuse often goes undetected and unreported because of societal neglect or fear of reprisal.
“Many boys, girls, and elderly women are subjected to emotional and physical abuse in hidden corners of our society,” she lamented. “But unless members of the public begin to speak up and report these incidents, our security agencies and child protection institutions will remain handicapped.”
Dr. Prempeh urged Ghanaians to be proactive in identifying and reporting instances of abuse, particularly against young girls, many of whom endure exploitation without recourse to justice.
She also pushed for stricter legal consequences for perpetrators to serve as a deterrent and reaffirm the nation’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.
“The law must be uncompromising when it comes to child rights violations,” she said. “Only then can we uphold the true dignity and humanity of every Ghanaian child.”
