Human Rights Director Demands Faster Justice for Sexual Abuse Cases

The Executive Director of the Human Rights and Development Service, Eva Ankrah, has called for the introduction of strict timelines in handling gender-based and sexual abuse cases, stressing that delays in the justice system continue to harm victims, especially children.

Speaking at a stakeholder forum to present outcomes of the KASA! Project, Mrs Ankrah noted that in some countries, cases involving child sexual abuse are concluded within a period of six weeks to one year. She contrasted this with the situation in Ghana, where prolonged legal processes often leave victims grappling with trauma, emotional distress, and social stigma for years.

According to her, timely justice is not only critical for the healing of victims and their families but also serves as a strong deterrent to potential offenders. She emphasised that holding perpetrators accountable promptly reinforces public confidence in the justice system.

The KASA! Project, implemented over a seven-month period with support from the African Women Development Fund, focused on raising awareness about sexual abuse among students in selected Senior High Schools and surrounding communities. The initiative educated participants on how to identify abuse, report incidents, and access support systems such as the Domestic Violence Fund under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Mrs Ankrah revealed that many students who participated in the programme shared experiences of abuse but expressed reluctance to report such incidents due to fear, stigma, and lack of trusted reporting channels. She therefore advocated the establishment of dedicated reporting systems within schools to make it easier and safer for victims to come forward.

As part of the intervention, 30 volunteers, together with religious and community leaders, were trained to support victims and facilitate the reporting of cases to the judiciary to ensure appropriate legal action.

She urged government agencies, civil society organisations, and community leaders to sustain the momentum built by the KASA! Project even after its completion, stressing the need for collective action to safeguard children and create safer communities for both girls and boys.