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MoGCSP Deploys Advance Team to Obuasi to Support Students Affected by Alleged Sexual Abuse
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has deployed an advance team to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to provide immediate psychosocial and social welfare support to students affected by the alleged sexual abuse incident at Obuasi Senior High Technical School. The team arrived on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
It comprises officers from the Department of Social Welfare, the Domestic Violence Secretariat, and the Department of Children. Furthermore, the team’s mandate is to assess the immediate and longer-term protection, psychosocial, health, and welfare needs of the affected students and facilitate appropriate interventions to support their recovery and well-being.
Team Engages Students, Families and Regional Stakeholders
The advance team is engaging affected students and their families as part of its assignment. It is also meeting relevant regional and district stakeholders, including education authorities, to assess the circumstances of those affected. Moreover, the team aims to identify gaps in available support services and coordinate the necessary institutional response.
The Ministry recognises that sexual abuse can have lasting effects on the emotional and psychological well-being, educational development, self-confidence, and future prospects of affected children. Therefore, the Ministry stresses that the response must go beyond addressing immediate concerns to ensure sustained care, protection, and recovery.
MoGCSP Emphasises Dignity, Confidentiality and Child Safety
The Ministry places particular emphasis on the dignity, safety, privacy, confidentiality, and best interests of the affected students. All engagements will follow a sensitive, child-centered, and trauma-informed approach to prevent further distress, stigmatization, or secondary victimization. Where necessary, the team will facilitate referrals to appropriate health facilities and specialized mental health and psychosocial support services. In addition, qualified health professionals will conduct all medical assessments in accordance with applicable consent, confidentiality, and child safeguarding requirements. The Ministry is also working with relevant institutions to avoid duplication of interventions and ensure timely access to services for affected students and their families.
Ministry Calls for Vigilance and Urges Public to Report Abuse
The Ministry reiterates its position that sexual abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children are unacceptable and must not be tolerated. It is working with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Police Service, and other stakeholders to identify institutional gaps and strengthen systems for detecting, reporting, and responding to abuse. However, the Ministry urges all stakeholders to respect the rights and privacy of affected students and refrain from public commentary that could expose them to further harm. Members of the public can report suspected cases of child abuse to the Ghana Police Service or contact the Ministry’s Helpline of Hope Call Centre and Orange Support Centre on 0800-800-800, 0800-900-900, 0800-111-222, or WhatsApp Support Centre: 0551757575. As a result of this incident, the Ministry says it remains resolute in strengthening child protection systems across the country.