Sexual harassment is one of the menaces bedeviling various universities in Ghana.
The situation creates an unsafe environment for females and hinders their academic, physical, and physiological progress.
Over 50 participants through a workshop by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Action Project (A-SHAP), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have therefore been sensitized to lead campaigns against sexual harassment
Forty eight per cent of female students in Ghana reported experiencing sexual harassment, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2018.
At the University of Ghana campus (2020), 60% of female students experience sexual harassment
These alarming statistics has necessitated collective efforts such including the KNUST Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy to fight against the social menace in educational institutions.
The 2-day training by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Action Project (A-SHAP) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology aims to heighten awareness of sexual harassment on campus and highlight signs for early detection of possible sexual assault and preventive measures.
Beneficiaries were educated on reporting procedures available to students, and victims.
The ASHAP workshop dubbed, “trainer of trainers” brought together students, professionals in academia, and experts in the subject matter.
The trainer of trainers will equip participants to subsequently train student leaders and peer-to-peer mentors periodically to enable them to handle cases of sexual harassment effectively.
Senior Lecturer and project lead for the Anti-Sexual Harassment Action Project (A-SHAP) KNUST, Dr. Mrs Mercy Badu believes that, students are unable to report sexual harassment issue due to limited information on available avenues.
She indicates the forum will equip participants with the requisite knowledge to better fight against sexual harassments.
“Students who go through harassment have little to do and they are not able to forgive themselves, and it affects their lives, but KNUST has a sexual harrassment policy document. And as part, we seek to let student know what is available, the avenues available that they can use, when they become victims.
“We are trying to enlighten them on the support systems we have on campus, how and where to report the cases. DOS, the counseling centres are there but students are not able to speak because they feel that when they speak they will be victimized. They have no people to trust. And those that are being trained will be able to build that trust to solve issues of harassment effectively,” she said.
President of Women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Ghana (WiSTEMGh), Prof. Ibok Oduro asked stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the various anti-harassment policies.
“Anti-sexual action project is here to stay and we want all students to be enlightened to be able to help themselves. When it comes to sexual harassment we should not only look at females. We also look at the male gender. It’s a mixed group to listen to each other and able to implement the policies we have as a people and nation,” she said.
Beneficiaries expressed delight at the knowledge gained from the workshop.
“I learned that to be a good counselor, you must deal with your own problem first. And as a participant, I have been enlightened to carry the message of anti-sexual harassment to others to have the courage to speak up. And I am excited to be a part of it,” Owusu Amoh Claudia said.
The workshop was facilitated by Mrs. Victoria De-Graft Adjei, Head of the KNUST Counselling Center who discussed the Prevention of Sexual Harassment/Assault, and Lawyer Isaac Berko of KNUST Legal Services who spoke on the KNUST Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy.
Anti-Sexual Harassment Action Project (A-SHAP) KNUST is an Association of Common Wealth Universities sponsored project under the Martha Farrell Foundation project.
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