Gender Data Ghana urges GES to end teacher transfers in abuse cases

Gender Data Ghana has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to abolish the practice of internally investigating allegations of child abuse involving teachers and transferring implicated staff to other communities.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the independent think tank argued that the practice undermines child protection and conflicts with existing laws, including the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), as amended, and Article 28 of the 1992 Constitution.

The statement, signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Dr Beatrice Duncan, follows concerns over the handling of allegations involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), including claims of the transfer and promotion of persons accused of offences against children.

The organisation said GES administrative policies must comply with the law and ensure that the best interests of children remain a priority while respecting the rights of accused persons.

Gender Data Ghana cited the Children’s Act, which requires cases involving children in need of care and protection to be reported to the Department of Social Welfare.

It said suspected child abuse cases should be handled through established child protection and criminal justice procedures, with social welfare officers providing professional support to affected children and the police conducting criminal investigations.

The think tank maintained that such cases should not be resolved solely through internal administrative processes within the GES.

The organisation called for increased funding and institutional support for the Department of Social Welfare to enable officers to respond promptly and independently to child abuse cases.

It also urged authorities to strengthen collaboration between social welfare officers and teachers and provide adequate training for school safeguarding focal persons on child protection laws and procedures.

Gender Data Ghana further called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and other relevant authorities to ensure that social welfare officers have the resources and independence needed to protect vulnerable children.

The think tank insisted that transferring teachers accused of child abuse to other communities does not replace the need for proper investigations and accountability where wrongdoing is established.

It stressed that protecting children and respecting the rights of accused persons were not mutually exclusive, adding that investigations must safeguard children’s welfare while upholding due process.

The organisation also reminded Ghana of its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and urged the government to strengthen the implementation of existing child protection laws.

Gender Data Ghana called for the abolition of the GES practice of internally investigating child abuse allegations and transferring implicated staff, insisting that all such cases must be handled through appropriate legal and child protection procedures.