Obuasi SHTS exposé: Minister proposes register to deter sexual abuse

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is considering establishing a register of perpetrators as a deterrent to sexual abuse, Minister Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey has said.

“We are considering that we’ll seek counsel from the Attorney-General and other respective institutions and stakeholders,” she said in an exclusive interview with The1957News, adding that the Ministry wanted to make sexual abuse unattractive to potential perpetrators.

The minister presented the register as a proposal under consideration, noting that the ministry would consult the Attorney-General and relevant institutions before deciding how to proceed.

She made the comments during an interview on allegations of sexual abuse involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Zakaria Abdulai. The minister said her ministry was reviewing GES policies and codes of conduct, considering tougher punishments and strengthening coordination with other agencies involved in child protection.

She also said the Ministry wanted to ensure victims were safe, received medical and psychological support, and could continue their education without stigma or victimisation.

The case has prompted criminal and administrative processes. The police have said they completed an investigation into one student’s complaint and forwarded the case docket to the Attorney-General for advice. The Education Ministry has also directed GES to interdict the headmaster pending investigations.

The Minister said consultations would help determine whether and how a register could be introduced.