Justice for our Obuasi SHTS girls

I condemn in the strongest terms the alleged sexual abuse of NINETEEN(19) female students of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

A school is meant to be a place of safety, learning and protection. A headmaster is meant to be a father to all students.

If these allegations are true, it is not just a crime against nineteen (19) girls; it is a betrayal of trust, a violation of childhood, and a failure of the very institution meant to protect them.

Ghana is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), The INTERNATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. (Bill of Rights for Women and is bound to protect our girls).

Article 2 and 5a of CEDAW are used as a powerful Dual Mechanism to combat deep-seated structural and cultural inequality. While Article 2 sets the strict LEGAL mandate for states to dismantle discriminatory laws and customs, Article 5(a) targets the underlying mindsets, i.e., cultural patterns, gender stereotypes and prejudices that allow discrimination to persist.

Discrimination against women

Based on SEX UNDER AUTHORITY, is discrimination in its CRUELEST form that State Parties must CONDEMN and pursue by all appropriate means. AND without DELAY a POLICY of eliminating such discrimination should be instituted.

Again, legislative and other measures, including SANCTIONS, should be taken States must modify social and cultural patterns to eliminate prejudices and practices based on the idea of the inferiority of women.

< b> General Recommendation No. 19 on violence against women

Gender based violence is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women’s ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men. It includes acts that inflict PHYSICAL, MENTAL or SEXUAL HARM or SUFFERING, THREATS of such acts as, COERCION and other DEPRIVATIONS of liberty.

THEREFORE

1) Full, independent and transparent investigation by GES, CID, Ministry of Gender and the Attorney-General must conclude their work without delay.

GES has confirmed that the headmaster has NOT been cleared and the Disciplinary Committee is still working.

2) Protection and counselling for the alleged victims.

No STIGMATIZATION, no INTIMIDATION, no VICTIMIZATION.

The girls must be heard and supported.

3) The law must be applied to enable fair justice.

It is believed that the accused is innocent until proven guilty.

The headmaster has denied the allegations. But if investigations establish culpability, he must be punished according to the law under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), and the Children's Act, 1998 (Act 560). No position, no title, no connection should shield anyone.

4) Systemic reform

Safe reporting channels in every SHS, a national sex offenders register for schools, and mandatory safeguarding training for all heads.

I stand with the NINETEEN (19) GIRLS.

I stand with every Ghanaian girl who goes to school trusting she will return home safe.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Let the law work fairly, fully and without fear or favour.

The Principle of Innocent until proven guilty must be upheld.

JUSTICE for THE NINETEEN GIRLS and their FAMILIES are NOTICEABLE.

WOMEN RISE UP

They deserve justice.