The protection and welfare of children in Ghana must remain a top priority for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. However, in recent months, Ghana has witnessed an alarming rise in cases of child sexual abuse, harassment, and grooming, not only within communities but also amplified through national media.

• On August 8, 2025, a radio presenter asked a 17-year-old survivor if she “enjoyed” her sexual assault during a live television interview.
• An assistant headmaster at KNUST SHS engaged in a sexual relationship with a student under his care, and several public figures defended his actions.
• A 49-year-old man raped a 13-year-old girl, claiming she “stole his money.” Although he was sentenced to ten years in prison, a content creator later appeared online demanding justice for the perpetrator.
• Another content creator trivialized sexual abuse by suggesting that male teachers deserve “self-control allowances.”
• Ransford, a 16-year-old boy, was raped by his football coach. He died from complications of the assault, yet the coach remains free and continues to train other boys

Despite these incidents and the public outrage that followed, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the institution mandated to safeguard our children, has not issued a statement, launched an education program, or taken visible steps toward accountability.

This silence is unacceptable. It is not neutrality, it is complicity.

Our Call
We, the undersigned, demand immediate and sustained action from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and relevant state institutions to protect Ghana’s children from sexual violence and exploitation.

Our Demands

Public Accountability

• The Ministry must issue a formal public statement condemning recent acts of child sexual assault, harassment, and media misconduct.

National Education Campaign

• Launch a nationwide desensitization and digital education initiative to teach children, parents, teachers, and media professionals about:
  • Grooming and consent
  • Safe digital practices
  • Trauma-informed responses

Professional Collaboration

• Partner with psychologists, educators, social workers, and creators to develop accessible, culturally relevant child-protection content across media platforms.

Accountability & Enforcement

• Strengthen and enforce policies that penalize teachers, journalists, influencers, or public figures who normalize or trivialize sexual violence.
• Establishment of a National Child Protection Database to help track cases and ensure that intervention measures are timely and effective.
• Establishment of a National Sex Offender Registry.

Ongoing Oversight

• Establish a Child Protection Response Task Force, including civil society members, to monitor progress and report publicly every six months.

Why This Matters

Every time a child’s trauma becomes entertainment, we send one message that their lives do not matter. Every time institutions stay silent, we enable more harm.

Protecting children is not optional. It is a constitutional and moral duty. Ghana deserves leadership that prioritizes safety over silence.

We Stand Together

We are citizens, parents, teachers, therapists, artists, and community leaders united across Ghana and the diaspora to demand that this Ministry fulfill its mandate.

We are not fueled by rage alone, but by love for the next generation. If the system will not protect Ghana’s children, we will.

Please add your voice to this crucial cause. Sign this petition to urge the Ghana Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to implement these necessary measures immediately. Together, we can make a significant difference in safeguarding our children's future.

In Community,

Dr. Alice

Lead, #ProtectTheChildGh Campaign