Director of Communications for the United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, has urged parents to teach their children to speak up about sexual advances and abuse, warning that some students may remain silent because they are afraid to report what they experience.
Owusu said the issue had become personal after his 13-year-old daughter questioned him about the sexual abuse controversy at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day, he said the conversation made him realise that children could be aware of disturbing incidents even when their parents assumed they knew little about them.
“I was late because of this issue because this morning I had to answer to my 13-year-old daughter,” he said.
“That is why I find it very difficult discussing the subject even in public like this because the young ones are also traumatised. I didn’t even know she even knew about it.”
He said he used the opportunity to ask his daughter whether she had ever experienced unwanted advances and how she would respond if such a situation arose.
Owusu believes parents must make it easier for children to disclose abuse without fear or embarrassment.
“I believe that parents must begin to instil into their wards the boldness to speak out,” he said.
He noted that some girls might be reluctant to report abuse, particularly when the alleged perpetrator is a teacher or another adult in a position of authority.
Owusu said the reports emerging from Obuasi SHTS showed that some students had attempted to seek help by reporting their experiences to school officials.
“In this case, in the SHS case, the girls spoke out. They immediately reported to their housemistress,” he said.
He added that some students had also reportedly approached a sports teacher, while one father had said he went to the school to take his daughter to the police to make a report.
However, Owusu questioned whether speaking up would be enough if complaints were not followed by meaningful action.
“Even where they spoke out, what happened to it? Didn’t they sit on it?” he asked.
