Mrs Angela Dwamena Aboagye, Executive Director of the ARK Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has urged pupils, especially girls, to report teachers who defile them in school to their parents.

“When any teacher defiles you, you should first report it to your parents for subsequent action to be taken,” she said.

Mrs Aboagye also urged parents of victims not to waste time on those issues but to immediately report to the appropriate quarters such as the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.

She was speaking at this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign launch by the ARK Foundation at Kukurantumi in the East Akyem Municipality.

While condemning such acts by some teachers, Mrs Aboagye entreated teachers, especially the males, to be disciplined enough not to defile their innocent pupils.

She also urged head teachers who for some reasons try to hide issues of defilement reported to them to desist from those practices, urging them to “fish out” the culprits for the law to deal with them.

Mrs Caroline Duncan-Amoah, the East Akyem Municipal Girl-Child Coordinator of the Ghana Education Service, called for efforts by the state, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to protect the girl child and “ensure that they are educated.”

She urged parents to invest in their children’s education to sustain their interest in learning and going to school.

Mrs Duncan-Amoah also urged the teachers to ensure a serene environment that would appeal to the pupils to stay in class at all times.

As part of the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, instituted by the United Nations (UN) to raise public awareness on the issue, the ARK Foundation held a community durbar to mark the beginning of the campaign.

The durbar which brought together chiefs, elders, schools and Assembly Members among others, was under the theme “Child Protection: the role of the Community.”

Issues of Child Protection, and Child welfare promotion at the community level were discussed.

Mr Samuel Kyei-Berko, Programmes Manager of the ARK Foundation, said in its quest to protect the girl child, the Foundation was embarking on the Girl Power Project to help girls and young women.

He called on the government, the community and families to intensify actions that protect children to ensure their survival, development and active participation in society.