Accra: Gender and girls' rights activists have proposed fines ranging from GHS24,000 to GHS60,000 for perpetrators of 'sex-for-jobs' offences under President John Mahama's proposed law aimed at tackling sexual harassment in employment. The proposed fines, equivalent to 2,000 to 5,000 penalty units, are intended to serve as a strong deterrent against workplace sexual exploitation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the activists also called for longer prison terms for offenders, arguing that tougher sanctions would discourage perpetrators and protect vulnerable job seekers, especially young women entering the workforce. Mrs Sheila Minkah-Premo, Convener of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, stated that sexual harassment in recruitment and workplaces was deeply demoralising and denied the country valuable human resources. 'I would recommend steep punishment,' she told the agency, emphasizing the need for the penalty units to range from 2,000 to 5,000.
Mrs Minkah-Premo, Managing Consultant at ALC Consult, highlighted that many qualified women performed well in interviews but were later subjected to sexual demands as a condition for employment. 'There are people who are qualified on paper and perform well in interviews, but then face sexual demands as a condition for getting the job,' she added.
Ms Hawa Tasala Gariba, National Chairperson of the Young Urban Women's Movement, echoed the call for longer jail terms for offenders. She said sexual harassment prevented many women from accessing employment opportunities and undermined their economic independence. Ms Gariba noted that fear of harassment and victim stories discouraged many women from seeking jobs. She added that a law with stiffer punishments would deter offenders and empower women economically.
Ms Gariba warned about the serious risks posed to women's sexual and reproductive health by coerced sexual demands in workplaces. She explained that women who succumbed to such demands to avoid losing their jobs risked contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and could resort to unsafe abortions in cases of unwanted pregnancies.
While welcoming President Mahama's proposal for a specific law on 'sex-for-jobs', Ms Gariba noted that Ghana already had some legal frameworks to address workplace sexual harassment. 'We have the Labour Act, which includes sexual harassment, and we are pushing for ratification of ILO Convention 190. The issue is enforcement,' she stated.