Salaga South MP visits family of abused Dodowa schoolgirl, assures them of justice

The Member of Parliament for the Salaga South Constituency, Hajia Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimiah, has paid a visit to the family of Jalila Abdul Jalil, the Dodowa schoolgirl who was recently abused, to express her solidarity and assure them that justice will be pursued.

Speaking during the visit, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimiah said she decided to personally check on the family after learning about the incident, particularly to assess the well-being of both the victim and her parents.

While describing the circumstances as painful, she said she was relieved to see Jalila in a stable condition and expressed gratitude to God for sparing her life.

According to the MP, Jalila’s mother informed her that the young girl had undergone surgery, which was successful and the family is hopeful of her full recovery.

The mother explained that her daughter left Akweteyman for Dodowa in pursuit of education, with the expectation that she would return home empowered and improved, not traumatized.

She lamented that the incident contradicts the very purpose of educational and caregiving institutions.

Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimiah assured the family that the matter would be treated with the utmost seriousness at the Parliamentary level, particularly by the Human Rights Committee and the Gender Committee.

She further disclosed that the Speaker of Parliament would be formally briefed to ensure that the appropriate parliamentary processes are triggered.

She stressed that no teacher, caregiver or individual entrusted with the welfare of children should ever abuse that responsibility.

The MP emphasised that the housemistress allegedly involved in the incident would be held accountable and made to face the full consequences of her actions, to serve as a deterrent to others.

She added that the Ministry of Education would also be engaged to put measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Recalling Ghana’s engagement with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Zuwera noted that child abuse remains a major concern raised in the country’s reports.

She stressed that acts of abuse against vulnerable children are unacceptable, emphasising that children lack the capacity to protect themselves and must therefore be safeguarded by adults, especially those placed in positions of trust.

She described the incident as deeply regrettable and pledged that it would be pursued with the seriousness it deserves.

Meanwhile, the family of Jalila Abdul Jalil expressed heartfelt gratitude to Hajia Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimiah for the visit and her intervention and prayed that justice would ultimately prevail.