Tamale: The Female Empowerment and Advocacy for Development (FEAD Ghana), a non-governmental organization, has issued a call for the rigorous enforcement of policies designed to address school-related gender-based violence. The organization aims to create safer learning environments for girls across Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, Hajia Hikmat Baba Dua, Executive Director of FEAD Ghana, emphasized that while Ghana has developed several policies and frameworks to protect girls and promote their education, weak implementation continues to undermine their effectiveness. In an interview in Tamale, Hajia Baba Dua stated that a stronger commitment from educational authorities, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders is essential to ensure the protection of girls from abuse and exploitation within schools.
Hajia Baba Dua pointed out that Ghana is proficient in developing policies and guidelines but faces challenges in implementing them. She noted that if existing policies, particularly those protecting girls within the educational system, are effectively enforced, significant progress could be made. She identified the Ghana Education Service Code of Conduct as a key instrument that could help prevent abuse and inappropriate relationships within schools if applied rigorously.
She further stressed that ensuring the safety of girls in schools is a collective responsibility. It requires active involvement from government institutions, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, and parents. Hajia Baba Dua urged law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively on reported cases of abuse involving girls.
Hajia Baba Dua observed that many victims and their families are reluctant to report incidents due to a lack of confidence in the justice system and fear that perpetrators will escape punishment. She called for the establishment of confidential reporting mechanisms within schools to enable girls to report abuse without fear of victimization or stigma.
Additionally, she appealed to chiefs, assembly members, religious leaders, and opinion leaders to support efforts aimed at protecting girls and ensuring that offenders are held accountable.