Sexual exploitation of teenage girls on the increase

Toase (Ash), Nov 25, GNA - Mr. Baffour Asare-Bediako, an Assistant Director of Education at Atwima district education office, has expressed concern about the widespread reported cases of sexual exploitation of teenage girls by male adults.

Mr. Asare-Bediako, who is in-charge of Human Resource Management and Development, said the most affected victims usually come from broken homes, polygamous households and orphans.

He was opening a day's workshop organised by the district education directorate for about 150 basic schools girl-child education co-ordinators at Toase in the Atwima district on Tuesday under the theme, "Effective Promotion of Girl-Child Education -The Sara Club concept".

Mr Asare-Bediako was not happy about the high incidence of the engagement of child domestic workers and expressed the need for effective collaboration between the law policy makers, traditional rulers and civil society to address the problem.

"Although there were laws on the rights of children, people, including even the more educated and elite in society continue to ignore those rights and abuse children", he regretted.

Mr Asare-Bediako therefore, entreated the participants not only to educate the girls on their rights but also encourage the establishment of home care agencies for the training and placement of children in domestic work.

Madam Dora Acquah, the Atwima District girl-Child Education Co-ordinator, said the workshop was aimed at promoting girl's education and retention, encouraging teenage mothers to go back to school, making schools girl-friendly and creating community awareness on the need to take good care of the girl-child.

Mr Joe Kingsley Ofori, an assistant director of education, who presided, noted that indiscipline and social vices among the youth could be adequately addressed through the active involvement of all stakeholders in the education campaign.