Gender Data Ghana, a think tank focused on gender equality through research and advocacy, has called on the government to abolish the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) practice of investigating allegations of child abuse internally and transferring teachers implicated in such cases.
It argued that the practice undermines Ghana’s child protection laws.
The think tank says the policy, which it considers inconsistent with the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), as amended and Article 28 of the 1992 Constitution, must be reviewed to ensure that allegations of abuse involving teachers are handled by the appropriate authorities.
In a statement issued last Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Dr Beatrice Duncan, Gender Data Ghana stressed that the welfare and best interests of children must remain the paramount consideration in all matters concerning them.
Concerns
The statement follows concerns surrounding the handling of allegations of abuse at the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), where the organisation questioned the practice of transferring and promoting staff implicated in alleged misconduct rather than ensuring that such cases receive appropriate investigation.
According to the organisation, the Children’s Act required anyone with information about child abuse or a child in need of care and protection to report the matter to the Department of Social Welfare.
It explained that where the department had reasonable grounds to suspect child abuse, it was required to direct a probation officer or social welfare officer, accompanied by the police, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.
Gender Data Ghana argued that the process provides a legal framework for protecting affected children while ensuring that criminal investigations are conducted by the appropriate authorities.
The organisation maintained that although accused persons were entitled to due process under the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 19 of the 1992 Constitution, administrative investigations by the GES should not replace the statutory responsibilities of the police and social welfare authorities.
Administrative policies
It further argued that administrative policies cannot override existing laws or constitutional provisions, describing the GES practice of internal investigations and transferring teachers implicated in alleged abuse as one that requires urgent scrutiny.
The think tank has consequently called for the policy and practice to be abolished and for social welfare officers to play a stronger role in addressing child abuse in schools.
It also urged authorities to provide the Department of Social Welfare, which operates under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, with adequate resources to investigate cases independently and respond promptly to reports of abuse.
In addition, Gender Data Ghana called for safeguarding focal persons in schools to receive proper training in child protection and the provisions of the Children’s Act.
The organisation said stronger collaboration between teachers and professional social workers at the local level would help improve the detection, reporting and handling of abuse cases.
It emphasised that Ghana’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child places significant obligations on the state to protect children and ensure that their rights are respected.
Gender Data Ghana concluded that greater support for social workers and strict enforcement of child protection laws were necessary to ensure justice for children without fear or favour.
