Bolgatanga, April 1, – Concerns are mounting in the Upper East Region following a rise in defilement cases involving minors, with six children currently identified as victims in ongoing cases.
Ms. Rita Abamah, Upper East Regional Gender Desk Officer at the Ghana Education Service, said the cases, recorded between July 2025 and March 2026, involved children below the age of 16 across Talensi District, Bawku Municipality, and Bolgatanga Municipality. All the victims are school-going children.
She disclosed this during a Regional Review Meeting on the Essential Services Package (ESP) for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), organised by the Department of Gender with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bolgatanga.
Providing details, Ms. Abamah cited a troubling case in Bolgatanga Municipality where two primary school girls were allegedly defiled by their teacher. She said the suspect had been arrested and granted bail, with the case currently before the court.
The incident came to light after one of the victims reported the matter to her mother, leading to further disclosures and police intervention.
In Bawku Municipality, she said a suspect accused of defiling two girls was on the run, while in Talensi District, one suspect had been arrested and another was being pursued by the police.
Ms. Abamah stressed the need for swift justice to serve as a deterrent, particularly for individuals entrusted with the care of children.
“If teachers, who are expected to protect these children, are rather the ones abusing them, then it means our children are not safe,” she lamented.
She urged victims to speak up, noting that the courage shown by the two girls in the Bolgatanga case should encourage others to report abuse.
However, she identified stigma, financial constraints, and family pressure as major barriers to reporting and pursuing such cases. Some families, she noted, opt for out-of-court settlements, especially when perpetrators are relatives.
Mr. James Twene, Acting Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Gender, called for collective action to address SGBV and protect vulnerable children. He warned that interference by families and community members continued to undermine justice for victims.
“If we do not allow the appropriate institutions to handle these cases, we will continue to violate the rights of women and girls,” he said.
He further urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration despite resource constraints to improve support services for survivors.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, and the Legal Aid Commission to review progress and enhance coordination in tackling SGBV in the region.
GHBUSS
April 01, 2026
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