Creating safe spaces for boys crucial to healthy development
Boys are often socialised to suppress their emotions due to traditional masculine norms that emphasise toughness and emotional control, among others.
However, this could potentially affect the mental health and relationships of boys. Emotional expression is a natural and healthy part of being human, regardless of gender.
Therefore, promoting the welfare of boys is crucial for their physical, emotional and psychological well-being.
It is in the light of this that the Daily Graphic welcomes a new initiative dubbed “Boys Safe Space” which aims at educating boys on their rights, defilement, rape and the consequences of ignorance of the law (See Daily Graphic, Monday, June 16, 2025)
Under the initiative, 15 men from Assin Foso have been trained to lead the project to promote the welfare of boys and reduce juvenile offences.
The programme was organised by the Department of Gender of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) in Cape Coast, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Ghana, and technical assistance from the Central Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).
The Daily Graphic shares the sentiments of the Central Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Richlove Amamoo, over the growing number of boys who ended up in prison simply because they were unaware of the law, especially in matters relating to defilement.
Of serious concern is Ms Amamoo’s observation that while most boys understood rape was a criminal offence, many were unaware that the law also classified consensual sex with a minor as defilement.
“They know rape is wrong, but they don’t understand that even having consensual sex with a minor is defilement under the law,” she stated.
The country needs more of such safe spaces for boys to provide a supportive environment where they can discuss their experiences, challenges, emotions, rights and responsibilities, laws protecting children, the importance of education and vocational skills, and, more importantly, stay out of trouble.
This initiative has numerous benefits, including improved mental health, because by expressing their emotions, boys can, through the initiative, reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
They can also help build positive relationships and healthy masculinity.
It is also a platform to change societal attitudes towards masculinity, reduce crime rates and increase community engagement and positive role models. By keeping boys safe, we can help them develop into healthy, well-adjusted and positive individuals who can thrive in life.
It is worthy to note that the initiative will not only educate boys about the law, but also inspire them to dream beyond their current conditions to pick up a trade, return to school, and become responsible citizens.
This, the Daily Graphic believes, is an important objective to support boys to become productive members of society and contribute to economic growth and development.
While this initiative has the potential to make an impact, it is necessary to replicate it across the country to impact more boys. Implementing more initiatives and sustaining them require a lot of resources and the paper is hopeful that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection will source for more funding to promote the welfare of boys and reduce juvenile offences to help create a safer and more supportive society for everyone.
The paper is hopeful that the organisers of the project will follow through with their proposal to meet traditional authorities for their support and involvement in the project.
This is important because community engagement will result in a more effective partnership between community stakeholders and initiative implementers, build trust and facilitate the community’s buy-in, as well as ensure that the initiative is culturally relevant and sustainable.
We urge policymakers, educators and community leaders to support this initiative.
By working together, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for boys to thrive.
