– Advocacy for Redress and Prevention

We had hardly started to write a rejoinder to Abena Gyeke’s piece on September 10, 2009 when we read the report of the abuse of the young ones by a 65 year American in the Volta Region (Ghanaweb, Sept. 11, 2009). It would seem that the Ghanaweb forum has become rife with reports on sexuality issues whether by default or otherwise. Irrespective of the source or cause of this trend, it is apparent that reporting of the issue of sexuality is becoming more prominent in the society and rightly so.

We commend Abena for the effrontery to bare her heart and soul on this issue and relate her personal experience, a feat that most victims of sexual abuse or molestation are not able to accomplish.

Based on these reports, it can be inferred that the issue is prevalent in the Ghanaian society; more disturbing though is the extent of the problem and the fact that the reported cases appear to the tip of the iceberg.

The testimony of a well known and respected clinical psychologist reinforces this point:

“During my twenty nine years of practice as a clinical psychologist in Ghana, I have had many clients both males and females (but predominantly females) who were sexually abused when they were children. I have relived with them their pain, anger, shame and false guilt that has burdened them and poisoned their emotional lives as adults.

A few had been able to tell their parents and had felt supported by them. The majority had never told their parents because they were afraid they would be disbelieved or blamed. Some had told their parents and had become victims twice over through the blame, rejection and stigma they received from them. Some parents for fear of social embarrassment had actually connived with perpetrators to silence their abused children.

I have been told of all manner of perpetrators but most often they have been friends of the family, relatives, workers in the home (house helps, gardeners) and sometimes parents themselves!” (Dr. Araba Sefa- Dedeh, Clinical Psychologist, Accra, Ghana)

In our own interaction with students in high school during our annual mission outreach, we have encountered cases of sexual abuse that are disturbing and downright bizarre, including incestuous relations between fathers and daughters, uncles and nieces and the like.

What can and should be done to stem the tide of this bane of the society??

1. Education; As a society, we need to become sensitized to the traumatic effects of child sexual abuse on victims and the general implication for the society at large. The day of sweeping the issue under the bed or keeping it under wraps should end now. The damage to our young ones, the future of the nation, can be devastating as this bane is comparable to armed robbery, the forcible extraction and possession of a treasure that belongs to a less powerful one. 2. Prevention: We, especially parents, need to teach and train our children to be streetwise with awareness of this problem and equip them with know-how to avoid becoming victims. Prevention should be taught in homes, schools, and community setting. 3. Exposure: On two fronts, there must be exposure of this ill. Victims must be encouraged to speak up without the attendant stigma that goes with this experience. The second front is to expose perpetrators with the appropriate legal action against the offenders. 4. The issue of Pedophiles who prey on children by offering them money, sweets and material things can be curtailed if government makes the effort to send a strong message to would be perpetrators. In Thailand which has seen a lot of their children sexually abused by tourists, large Bill boards are placed informing all especially tourists that prison sentences await perpetrators and that their children are not sex objects

To this end, we have taken the lead to publish two books set in the Ghanaian society: 1. “The Dawning of a new day – a Guide to help Victims of Sexual Abuse ” 2. “Parental Guide on Teaching children how to avoid Sexual Abuse”

These books will be launched on September 26, 2009 at the GNAT Hall in Accra and on October 3, 2009 at the Medical School Auditorium, Univ. of Cape Coast. It is our humble attempt to stem the tide of this social ill by providing resources to victims, parents, teachers and counselors etc to ‘reverse’ the effects of sexual abuse, and prevent the incidence of sexual abuse. You are invited to attend and network with other advocates.

We are aware that there are now a number of agencies, both governmental and NGOs which are working towards the same goal and we are glad to be a part of the effort.

The adage is most pertinent: “SILENCE, IGNORANCE AND APATHY ARE THE CHILD PREDATORS’ GREATEST ALLIES”

Become an advocate for the sexually abused child. There is a role everyone can play

Jojo Entsuah (P.E.) and Barbara Entsuah, MD

Directors & Co-Founders

Gateway of Hope, Inc Clermont, FL, USA

gohinc@gmail.com