From shock to action: Protecting our children from sexual abuse

I wish to commend Manasseh Azure for his documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which has brought renewed attention to the disturbing reality of sexual abuse in our secondary schools.

May I confess that, as a researcher who has conducted extensive studies on child sexual abuse in Ghana, I have not yet gathered the courage to watch the documentary because of how horrifying and distressing the story is. Although it has shocked many Ghanaians and left others speechless, I fear that what it reveals may only be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the reality of child sexual abuse in our society.

Many children are abused in places where they should feel safest, including their schools and homes. Sadly, some are abused by the very people entrusted with their care and protection. Perpetrators may include teachers, relatives, domestic workers, strangers, and others who exploit children's vulnerability and trust.

Child sexual abuse extends beyond defilement or penetrative sexual acts. It includes both contact and non-contact forms of abuse. Contact sexual abuse may involve inappropriate sexual touching, fondling, sexual penetration, and other sexual acts involving a child. Non-contact sexual abuse may include exposing children to pornographic materials, involving them in sexually explicit conversations or activities, voyeurism, and requesting or pressuring them to engage in sexual acts.

It is also important to recognize that boys, too, are victims of sexual abuse. Through my research, I have encountered boys who have experienced sexual abuse and have heard accounts of similar incidents in our schools and communities. Their experiences must not be overlooked simply because public conversations about child sexual abuse tend to focus more on girls. Every child, regardless of sex, deserves protection, support, and justice.

Many cases remain hidden because of fear, stigma, victim-blaming, financial constraints, and limited knowledge of sexuality and personal safety. Some children do not know how to recognize inappropriate behaviour or where to seek help. Others are afraid that they will be blamed, shamed, disbelieved, or punished if they speak out.

In Ghana, cultural sensitivities and the tendency to treat sexuality as a taboo subject can make it difficult for children and families to discuss abuse openly. When conversations about children's bodies, personal boundaries, and sexual safety are avoided, children may lack the knowledge and confidence to recognize inappropriate behaviour and seek help. This silence can leave them vulnerable and make it more difficult for survivors to obtain justice and support.

We must move from shock to prevention, from silence to disclosure, and from public outrage to accountability.

Our children deserve more than sympathy after abuse has occurred. They deserve systems, institutions, families, and communities that protect them before abuse happens.

Protecting children is not optional; it is our collective responsibility. Every child deserves to grow, learn, and thrive in an environment free from sexual abuse, exploitation, and fear.

Parents and caregivers must be supported to have open, age-appropriate conversations with children about their bodies, personal boundaries, inappropriate touching, sexual exploitation, and how to seek help. Schools must complement these efforts with appropriate sexuality education and effective child safeguarding programmes.

Trusted, confidential, and child-friendly reporting mechanisms must be established and made accessible to learners. Children should know whom they can approach when they feel unsafe and be confident that they will be heard, believed, and protected. Adults must listen without judgment, avoid blaming victims, take disclosures seriously, and refer children to appropriate protection and support services. How we respond when a child discloses abuse can determine whether that child receives help or retreats further into silence.

Children who report abuse must never be threatened, intimidated, humiliated, punished, or disadvantaged academically for speaking out. Schools must take appropriate steps to protect their safety and privacy while ensuring that allegations are referred to the relevant authorities. Confidentiality must be maintained to the extent possible, without concealing abuse or obstructing necessary reporting.

Clear supervision procedures, appropriate professional boundaries, and transparent arrangements for interactions between adults and learners must be established and enforced. Where allegations involve a teacher, head teacher, or another person in authority, institutional loyalty, reputation, and fear of scandal must never take precedence over a child's safety. Allegations must be referred to the appropriate child protection and law enforcement authorities, with all administrative actions guided by applicable safeguarding procedures and due process.

Schools should also establish referral arrangements with qualified health professionals, social welfare services, and appropriate counselling providers. Children who experience abuse must receive timely, child-sensitive support, and reasonable arrangements should be made to safeguard their well-being and continuity of education.

Manasseh Azure's documentary has brought a disturbing issue into public conversation. We must ensure that this attention translates into meaningful action, stronger safeguarding systems, and lasting institutional change.

Every child deserves to be safe. Every disclosure deserves to be taken seriously. Every perpetrator must be held accountable through due process. And every institution entrusted with children's welfare must be prepared to protect them.

Author: Prof. Ummu Markwei

Assoc. Prof of Applied Sociology/ Gender, Children's Rights and Social Inclusion Specialist

University of Professional Studies, Accra/ Takemi Fellow, Harvard School of Public Health

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