Gender Minister Engages Obuasi Community on Student Safety and Child Protection
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has engaged authorities of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) and key community stakeholders on measures to protect students, support those affected by alleged sexual abuse and strengthen child protection systems.
The visit was aimed at addressing concerns surrounding the alleged abuse, restoring confidence within the school community and ensuring that appropriate measures were put in place to prevent similar incidents.
During her engagement on Wednesday with school management and other stakeholders, Dr Lartey stressed that protecting children required more than laws and policies, noting that effective implementation, institutional collaboration and prompt action were equally important.
She assured that the Ministry would work closely with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other relevant institutions to strengthen child protection structures and improve students’ access to counselling and other support services.
The Minister said the welfare of the affected students remained a priority while investigations continued. She disclosed that the Ghana Health Service was also involved in providing support to address their health needs.
She further indicated that the police were investigating the allegations and that anyone found culpable would face prosecution in accordance with the law. She emphasised that the affected students must receive the necessary care and support without being subjected to further victimisation.
As part of the visit, Dr Lartey also met with traditional and religious leaders, Parent-Teacher Association representatives, Assembly Members, civil society organisations and old students of the school to discuss the situation and encourage a collective response.
She outlined steps being taken by the relevant government institutions and reaffirmed the Ministry’s coordinating role in ensuring that the various interventions were properly aligned.
The Minister called on parents, guardians and members of the public to report wrongdoing and raise concerns whenever children’s safety and welfare were at risk. She stressed that protecting children was a shared responsibility that required the active involvement of families, schools, communities and state institutions.
She also appealed to media practitioners to exercise caution when reporting cases involving children, particularly allegations of sexual abuse. Expressing concern over the publication of some affected students’ full names, she said such disclosures had caused distress to their families and made further engagement more difficult.
Dr Lartey urged the media to respect the privacy and dignity of the children, stressing that responsible reporting was essential to protecting their welfare and ensuring that efforts to address the allegations were not undermined.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to safeguarding children in schools, homes, churches and communities, adding that the Ministry would continue working with relevant institutions to support the affected students and strengthen child protection arrangements.
She stressed the need for sustained cooperation to ensure that every child could learn, grow and develop in a safe and secure environment.
Meanwhile, continuing students have started returning to the school, with measures being taken to improve security and rebuild trust between students and teachers. The Minister urged parents and students to cooperate with school authorities as they continue efforts to restore a safe, supportive learning environment.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
