Former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Otiko Afisah Djaba has urged Vice-President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to visit students allegedly abused sexually at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), saying that, calls for the law to take its course are not enough to address their immediate needs.
Speaking to the press, the Executive Director of the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation said the allegations against the school’s headmaster are nefarious and damning, further questioning what was being done to protect the affected girls while investigations continued.
Her comments follow a statement by the Vice-President describing the allegations as a serious national concern and calling for the law to take its course.
Dr. Djaba said the Vice-President should demonstrate her commitment to the welfare of the students by engaging directly with them and ensuring they receive the necessary support and protection.
“While the law is taking its course, what's happening to the children?” she asked.
“I would have expected by now that she herself would go there,” she added.
Ms Djaba said her appeal was not about restricting the Vice-President’s responsibilities to women’s issues because of her gender. Rather, she said, the country’s first female Vice-President had an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on matters affecting women and children.
Recalling the Vice-President’s appeal for women’s support during the election campaign, she said the significance of having a woman in the country’s second-highest political office should be reflected in action on issues affecting their welfare.
“It's not about gender boxing,” she said. “Nobody is saying that because you are a woman and you are a vice, only focus on women.” She added:
“When you have been given this huge opportunity, to whom much is given, much is expected.”
Ms Djaba also questioned the handling of the allegations, arguing that an earlier intervention could have prevented further harm to students.
