GFD condemns BOGISS over abuse case
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has challenged the treatment of a 14-year-old student at Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS), arguing that the school wrongly subjected an alleged victim of abuse to disciplinary punishment.
The organisation says the student, who has autism and is at the centre of allegations involving two school watchmen, should have been protected and supported rather than sanctioned.
According to the Federation, an internal disciplinary process reportedly found the student culpable of sexual misconduct and initially recommended her dismissal. Although that penalty was later reduced to the withdrawal of her boarding privileges, the GFD insists the decision reflected a fundamental failure to treat the matter as a child-protection issue.
At the heart of the Federation’s concerns is the principle that a minor cannot legally consent to sexual activity with an adult under Ghanaian law. As a result, it argues, responsibility for any wrongdoing cannot be placed on the child if the allegations against the adults are substantiated.
The controversy has intensified following the arrest and interdiction of the two watchmen, who are currently under investigation by the police. The Ministry of Education has also intervened, directing the Ghana Education Service to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case and ordering the immediate restoration of the student’s boarding status.
While welcoming those steps, the GFD says more action is needed. It wants all disciplinary measures imposed on the student cancelled and any finding of misconduct removed from her records. The organisation is also calling for a formal apology to the student and her family.
Beyond the individual case, the Federation argues that the incident has exposed broader safeguarding concerns within schools, particularly for children with disabilities, who may face greater risks because of their dependence on adults and institutional support systems.
Among its recommendations are stricter screening procedures for non-teaching staff, independent safeguarding reviews in schools, and specialised support services for students with disabilities who experience abuse.
The Federation is urging education authorities, child-protection agencies and law enforcement bodies to use the case as an opportunity to strengthen protections for vulnerable students across the country, warning that failures in safeguarding can have particularly severe consequences for children with disabilities.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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