Gender Ministry Urges Safer Universities to Curb Harassment and Gender-Based Violence
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) has called on tertiary institutions across the country to create safer and more inclusive environments that protect students from harassment and gender-based violence (GBV).
Speaking at a two-day multi-stakeholder workshop in Aburi, Eastern Region, Mrs. Ernestina Oduro, Senior Program Officer at the Ministry, stressed that tackling harassment and GBV requires a collective national effort.
“Creating a safe, inclusive and supportive tertiary institution is not the responsibility of one Ministry or organization, but it requires collective ownership, commitment and action from us all,” she said. “Together, we can build an environment where every student can thrive, free from fear, intimidation or harassment.”
The workshop brought together policymakers, gender experts, professors, student leaders, Women Commissioners, officers of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, civil society organizations, and development partners. Discussions focused on five major public universities, the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, University of Education–Winneba, and the University for Development Studies.
Organized jointly by the POS Foundation, a local advocacy group, and Amplify Change, a global civil society organization, the event assessed existing gender policies, highlighted gaps, and explored strategies to ensure effective implementation.
Mrs. Oduro emphasized the serious consequences of GBV, noting that such acts violate fundamental human rights and compromise the dignity, safety, and aspirations of young people, especially women and girls. She further commended the inclusion of survivors’ voices in the dialogue, saying: “The inclusion of survivors’ voices is commendable, as it ensures that policies and interventions are grounded in real experiences.”
Dr. Emmanuel Newman, Director of the Tertiary Education Division at the Ministry of Education, acknowledged the persistence of harassment in tertiary institutions and urged universities to embrace innovative tools. He cited the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s (KNUST) online reporting platform as a model that allows victims to discreetly report abuse. He further encouraged the POS Foundation to extend its advocacy to technical and private institutions.
For his part, Mr. Jonathan Osei Owusu, Executive Director of the POS Foundation, condemned societal attitudes that promote control over women’s bodies under the guise of financial support or authority. “Unfortunately, this same attitude is also seen among people of power academically, socially, or professionally who exploit authority to demand access and control over the bodies of others, especially women and young people,” he cautioned.
He stressed that universities remain particularly vulnerable spaces, especially for first-year students unfamiliar with existing support systems. “Your body belongs to you. Consent is never a transaction, and no level of financial support, emotional manipulation or academic mentorship gives anyone the right to another person’s body,” Mr. Owusu declared.
He advocated for early education on bodily autonomy, beginning from childhood and reinforced throughout life, as a long-term solution to the menace.
Adding a cultural perspective, Nana Yopeyo Dadetsu II, Queenmother of Dodowa-Manya, appealed to civil society organizations to strengthen community outreach and awareness creation to address harassment and GBV at the grassroots.
The workshop concluded with a call for stronger institutional frameworks, effective policy enforcement, and collaborative action to ensure that Ghana’s universities become safe spaces where academic aspirations can be pursued without fear of abuse.
