Obuasi:Gender Data Ghana, a think tank dedicated to gender equality, has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to cease the practice of handling child abuse allegations against teachers through internal investigations and transfers. The organization argues that this approach undermines Ghana’s child protection laws.
According to Ghana Web, Gender Data Ghana is advocating for such allegations involving teachers to be referred to appropriate authorities for a thorough investigation, rather than being resolved solely through administrative procedures. The call to action is in response to concerns about how alleged abuse cases are being managed at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), where implicated staff have reportedly been transferred or promoted without proper scrutiny.
The organization emphasized the importance of adhering to the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), as amended, and Article 28 of the 1992 Constitution, insisting that these legal frameworks necessitate that child abuse concerns be addressed by relevant authorities. It highlighted that individuals with information about child abuse should report to the Department of Social Welfare, which, along with the police, is responsible for investigating such cases.
Gender Data Ghana has called for GES to abolish internal investigations that bypass statutory responsibilities of social welfare authorities and police. The think tank also advocates for the government to equip the Department of Social Welfare with sufficient resources for independent investigations and prompt responses. Additionally, it suggests that safeguarding focal persons in schools be trained in child protection laws and procedures to better manage abuse cases.