Klottey Korle MP and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has urged religious and traditional leaders, and other influential people, to stop intervening in cases of sexual abuse against children.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, she said sexual offences must not be treated like petty theft, where an apology, family meeting or compensation could make the matter go away.
“We must not behave as though sexual crimes are akin to petty theft, where an apology, a family meeting, or some form of compensation can simply take the matter away,” she said.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said forgiveness should not be used to undermine legal accountability.
“Forgiveness is a personal and spiritual matter. Accountability is a matter of law, and one must never be used to undermine the other,” she said.
She called for the urgent establishment of a national sex offenders register, supported by a comprehensive legal framework and focused particularly on people convicted of sexual offences against children. She said the register should support appropriate monitoring and help prevent repeat offences, with safeguards for due process and data protection.
The MP also called for mandatory background checks for people seeking to teach, supervise, care for or work closely with children. She warned against transferring teachers to other schools when credible allegations of sexual abuse arise, saying this could expose other children to danger.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings cited figures in her statement indicating that Ghana registered 1,132 defilement cases, 297 rape cases, 10 attempted defilement cases and 16 attempted rape cases in 2025. For 2024, she cited 1,296 defilement cases and 316 rape cases.
She said official figures represent only cases reported and registered, while fear, intimidation, stigma and pressure from families and communities may prevent victims from speaking out. She called for stronger survivor support, access to medical and psychological care, timely investigations and prosecutions, and accountability for those who obstruct justice.
