President of the Women Forum of the Ghana Bar Association, Sheila Minkah-Premo, has called for schools across the country to display prominent notices warning against sexual misconduct involving students and outlining the penalties for offenders.
She said making information on sexual abuse prohibitions, sanctions and reporting channels easily accessible could strengthen preventive measures and encourage students to speak out against inappropriate conduct.
Speaking on What The Papers Are Saying on Channel One TV on Thursday, October 22, Madam Minkah-Premo argued that placing such information only in school rules and codes of conduct was inadequate because students might not readily access or understand the documents.
She proposed the installation of large signboards and posters at school entrances and administrative blocks, clearly stating prohibited conduct, the consequences of violations and the channels available for reporting suspected abuse.
“When anyone enters a senior high school or technical school, there should be huge signboards displaying the rules. Sometimes, when information is hidden in books or codes of conduct, people do not have access to it. Let’s put up posters instead,” she said.
She stressed that the notices should explicitly warn teachers and other school authorities against sexual misconduct involving students and specify the sanctions applicable to offenders.
“If you state a rule or principle without indicating the sanctions or penalties for breaching it, people may not take it seriously,” she added.
Beyond the display of notices, Madam Minkah-Premo called for effective and accessible reporting systems to enable students to report inappropriate behaviour by teachers and school administrators without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
She questioned the adequacy of existing reporting arrangements in situations where the person accused of misconduct was the head of the school, noting that students needed clear alternatives when the usual channels involved the authorities against whom complaints might be made.
She identified guidance and counselling units as important components of school-based protection systems but said additional safeguards were necessary to ensure that students could raise concerns and receive appropriate assistance.
Her recommendations follow allegations of sexual harassment involving 19 female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, where the headmaster has been accused of misconduct. The matter has been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for criminal investigations.
The allegations have renewed public attention on the protection of students in educational institutions and the effectiveness of mechanisms for reporting suspected abuse by teachers and school administrators.
Madam Minkah-Premo’s proposal seeks to make school safeguarding rules more visible while strengthening students’ awareness of their rights, the consequences of sexual misconduct and the avenues available to seek help.
