Accra: National Service personnel are the group most affected by the 'sex-for-job' phenomenon, Mrs. Sheila Minkah-Premo, Convener of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, has said. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, she highlighted how many service persons experienced sexual harassment while transitioning from national service into permanent employment.
According to Ghana News Agency, her comments follow President John Mahama's call for legislation to criminalise 'sex-for-job' practices during a town hall meeting at Adweso in Koforidua at the end of his two-day 'Resetting Ghana Tour' of the Eastern Region. Mrs. Minkah-Premo remarked that it has become a trend for National Service personnel to be confronted with demands for sexual favors when they apply for full employment after completing their service.
Mrs. Minkah-Premo, a lawyer known for her work on gender and girls' rights, said she has handled several cases of sexual harassment involving service personnel over the years. She is currently assisting two young women who allegedly became victims while seeking employment post-national service, and the matter has been reported to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for action.
She further referenced unpublished research she conducted for an international organization, which found that the transition from national service to the corporate sector is a period when many young people become vulnerable to harassment. Many perpetrators, she said, escape punishment because victims are often reluctant to report incidents due to intimidation and fear of public backlash.
Mrs. Minkah-Premo expressed support for the President's call for specific legislation to address the issue and urged organizations to adopt clear sexual harassment policies and sanction offenders.