Stop parading innocent children as witches on TV - Otiko Djaba to pastors

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba has expressed disappointment in televangelists in the country who have gained notoriety in lining up innocent children on television and accusing them of being witches.

According the Minister, their conduct is an affront to the fundamental rights of such children indicating that those pastors who are into such shameful acts use it as a way of making their churches popular promising to soon go after them.

She has therefore served a strong warning to those pastors who are engaged in such practices to put an end to it or incur the wrath of her ministry adding that they are tarnishing or destroying the future of such kids who could be stigmatized against.

The Minister at the climax the 16-day activism against Gender-Based Violence in the Central Region with the Regional Director of Department of Gender, Mrs. Thywill Eyra Kpe under theme: ’Leave no one behind end violence against women and girls”, revealed that her ministry will continue to formulate and implement workable policies that are aim at achieving gender equality and ending gender based violence in the country.

She mentioned that her outfit will also strengthen their collaboration with other development partners, particularly the Attorney General to ensure that cases are swiftly dealt with so that the public can have the confidence of reporting such cases.

Mrs. Djaba explained that it is for these and other reasons, that the 16 days of activism campaign is carried out every year to continue to build on existing awareness.

According to her, it would also strengthen networking and partnerships with the aim of changing stereotyping about gender based violence in societies.

The Minister called on all the traditional authorities and public to play a meaningful role in the fight to ending gender based violence often targeted at women and girls.

“We all have a role to protect women and girls from every form of violence but most especially the sexual violence of defilement and rape that seems to be penetrating deep into the Ghanaian fabric” She added.

Mrs. Djaba therefore stated that violence against women and girls is a crime against humanity and must be reported to the appropriate police station.

A student from Obiri Yeboah Senior High School (name withheld) during an open forum appealed to the Minister to come to their aid by rescuing female students from male teachers who sexually harass them.