‘Sexual abuse is a crime, not a disciplinary matter’: Catholic women in Ghana demand accountability

ACCRA, Ghana — Members of the Accra Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women in Ghana have called for prompt investigations into child sexual abuse and legal accountability for perpetrators, urging stronger protection for children in schools, homes, and communities.

In a statement condemning sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation of children, the council members urged authorities to investigate every reported case promptly and professionally, regardless of the alleged perpetrator’s social standing, influence, or institutional position.

“Sexual abuse is a crime, not a disciplinary matter,” the Catholic women said.

The council members further stressed that responding to abuse involves responsibilities for child protection, justice, and human rights, and requires national action. Institutions and individuals have a duty to protect children from further abuse, prevent exploitation, and ensure their safety, they said.

The women called for allegations to be reported to the appropriate authorities so that investigations can be conducted and perpetrators held accountable through established legal procedures.

People who interfere with investigations, threaten victims or witnesses, or tamper with evidence should also face accountability, they added.

To strengthen institutional oversight, members of the council urged the Ghana Education Service and other relevant agencies to publish regular, anonymized information on abuse complaints, the handling and outcomes of investigations, and measures introduced to improve child safeguarding.

They also called on lawmakers and oversight institutions to strengthen their scrutiny of abuse allegations and institutional responses, and to ensure that necessary interventions are implemented.

Alongside these demands, the Catholic women called for accessible, confidential reporting mechanisms that children and witnesses can use without fear of exposure or intimidation.

Survivors should receive appropriate healthcare, psychological assistance, and legal support, the council said, together with protection from discrimination, threats, and reprisals. Schools must provide secure and supportive environments where children can learn and develop without fear, it added.

In their statement, the Catholic women also raised concern about incest and sexual abuse within families, including fathers abusing their daughters, describing such acts as grave violations of children’s rights, dignity, and safety.

“Their bodies are not bargaining tools,” the council members declared.

Their appeal stressed children’s rights to dignity, safety, bodily integrity, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

They also cautioned against overlooking boys in safeguarding efforts, pointing out that they, too, are vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. They urged parents, religious institutions, and local communities to strengthen protection for all children, regardless of gender.

The Catholic women further called for reported child abuse cases, including those affecting abandoned and unaccompanied children, to be examined and acted upon, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the protection they need.

They maintained that safeguarding children in schools, homes, and communities must be recognized as a shared national responsibility.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/africa/sexual-abuse-is-a-crime-not-a-disciplinary-matter-catholic-women-in-ghana-demand-accountability