The Ministry of Education has unequivocally stated that sexual harassment has no place in Ghana’s educational institutions. This firm position underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring safe and inclusive learning environments for all students and staff.
Harriet Krakani, Deputy Director of the Tertiary Directorate at the Ministry of Education, emphasized this stance at a multi-tertiary stakeholder conference in Accra. She stressed that tertiary institutions must strengthen prevention, reporting, and support systems. This proactive approach aims to protect individuals and ensure their well-being, which is crucial for effective education.
This declaration fits into Ghana's broader efforts to improve governance and human rights within its public institutions. Sexual harassment undermines individual dignity and affects the educational experience, potentially eroding public confidence in these vital institutions. The government's clear directive seeks to address these systemic issues head-on.
Ms. Krakani stated, “Government is unequivocal in its position that sexual harassment has no place in our educational institution.” She further elaborated that institutional responses must move beyond merely addressing incidents after they occur. Instead, institutions must foster cultures where prevention is active, reporting is encouraged, and survivors receive dignified and confidential support.
The Ministry's commitment extends to practical measures, including the development of guidelines by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). These guidelines provide a framework for prevention, reporting, response, protection, and enforcement of anti-sexual harassment policies. Effective implementation of these policies is the true test of their success, ensuring students and staff can access necessary support mechanisms.
Preventing sexual harassment requires a multi-stakeholder approach, involving collaboration among gender centres, counselling units, and student leadership. Interventions also include training first responders and campus human rights defenders. These efforts are vital for translating policy commitments into tangible actions that protect dignity and safety within tertiary institutions.
Ms. Krakani urged institutions to take ownership of these interventions and integrate effective prevention and response mechanisms into their systems. She called for sustainable structures that will remain functional beyond individual projects. The goal is to create an environment where no student compromises personal safety for academic opportunity, and no staff member works in an environment tolerating harassment.
The Ministry welcomes a survivor-centred approach, which places the dignity, safety, needs, and choices of survivors at the heart of institutional responses. This approach requires institutions to listen to survivors, protect their confidentiality, and provide appropriate support. It also ensures institutional processes do not expose survivors to further harm, stigma, or victimisation.
This government position reflects a clear directive that sexual harassment must be prevented, appropriately reported, effectively addressed, and never normalized in tertiary institutions. Stakeholders are challenged to move beyond policies to practical actions that safeguard the well-being of everyone in Ghana’s educational system. This comprehensive strategy aims to build trust and ensure accountability across the sector.