The National Youth Authority (NYA) has intensified efforts to address advocacy on sexual violence meted out to young people.
With the criminal act tending to derail victims’ social life and future endeavour, a conference was held in the Ashanti Region to address the problem.
In collaboration with the UNFPA Country Programme, the event hosted representatives from traditional authorities, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Department of Social Welfare, CSOs, apprentices and varied categories of out-of-school young people vulnerable to sexual violence in the Kumasi Metro and Tafo Municipality to discuss common grounds of mitigating the incidence.
The Executive Director of Muslim Family Counselling Services, Mr Mohammed Bun Bida, decried sexual exploitation in the Ashanti Region.
He recounted how some squatters in slums specialise in accommodating young girls who travel to the city for livelihood in exchange for sex.
He said the situation is very prevalent in Asafo, Ashtown and other places where head potters, popularly known as ‘kayayei’, mostly dwell.
His organization is working together with the Department of Gender and Children and the Department of Social Welfare on several rescue operations, including child marriage in the region and other parts of Ghana.
One of the key challenges is the reluctance of the victims to pursue cases when culprits are arrested. He, therefore, called on victims to desist from dragging their feet when in the pursuit of justice.
Additionally, he drew the attention of the police to slums and other secluded areas which serve as breeding grounds for diverse sexual offences.
In a panel discussion that ensued, the Regional Commissioner for CHRAJ, Ms Cynthia Martinson, urged all the participants to report cases of abuse to her office for the right legal guidance.
She expressed readiness to refer cases to the appropriate state institutions for prosecution when necessary.
Ms Sandra Gyima of the Ghana Health Service’s Adolescent Health Corner also entreated victims to seek medical attention to curb any unforeseen consequences such as pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
She pledged that the institution is a youth-friendly and confidential environment for young people to share challenges in their sexual lives.
On his part, the Regional Director of NYA, Mr George Orwell Amponsah, entreated relevant state institutions and other stakeholders to pay attention to the issues that confront young people, especially teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and other reproductive health matters.
In his view, any neglect of these equally important matters can derail whatever gains the country seeks for economic empowerment.
