It looks like paedophilia is growing in Ghana. Maybe I am wrong, but I have been reading about instances of children having been abused. So, I keep asking myself, is paedophilia as a serious crime against children rising in our society? If so, then I wish to draw the authorities’ attention so that they act decisively to hinder its rise. 

Wikipedia defines paedophilia as “an obsession with children as sex objects”. It is explained that overt acts, including taking sexually explicit photographs, molesting children, and exposing one’s genitalia to children, are all crimes.

Child abuse is a serious and devastating problem in African countries and all over the world. Hence, in various countries a sex offender registry exists to enable government authorities to keep track of the activities of sex offenders. 

The number of children who are abused may, however, be underestimated, particularly in African communities, because such heinous crimes do not come to light or are not reported.

Protecting children

Child abuse is a broad area of injustice or violence against children. According to the World Health Organisation, violence against children includes all forms of violence against people under 18 years old. For infants and younger children, violence mainly involves child maltreatment (i.e. physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect) by adults. Girls are at greater risk of sexual abuse.

Child labour, corporal punishment and child trafficking for example also fall under child abuse.

It seems that paedophilia, as an aspect of child sexual abuse, has less been focused on, unlike child labour and child trafficking, for instance. I think it is time to talk about paedophilia in our country.  

Paedophilia and other sexual violations against children are a major threat to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially concerning the third goal of good health and well-being, which is devoted to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

Any form of child sexual abuse is not to be tolerated, and what is nauseating to me is the abuse of children below 13 years. Who in their right senses would have pleasure from a sexual activity with such minors? Paedophiles are, indeed, dangerous loners.

The tricks

Reports indicate that paedophiles usually lure victims with money or gifts.

They can send the children on errands and then drag the victim into a room or a secluded place, as media reports or narrations by victims often tell about how they ended up being subjected to such inhumane treatment.

You also read that the offending adult may strike a friendship with the parents or family members of the targeted child as bait to gain access to the victim.

Such wicked people may also issue death threats to the victim in order to put fear into them to comply. 

Vigilance and education

Our society or culture upholds key values, among which is respect for elders by the youth. Hence, a child who refuses to go on an errand for a senior person is often viewed negatively as being disrespectful.

However, if the paedophiles would capitalise on such a lofty ideal of children being obedient, in order to perpetrate child sexual abuse and other crimes, then I think that parents and guardians should be vigilant and train their children to be aware of the tricks by such evil adults.

I support any calls for our chiefs, queens and other leaders of our communities to organise regular participatory durbars to sensitise communities to children’s rights, accountability from adults, and legal procedures against culprits.

Prosecutions and punishments

Sexual abuse against women and children is a global public health and human rights issue. Hence, such abuses should be prosecuted and the culprits punished severely as a deterrent to others.

The establishment of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), formerly known as the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) within the Ghana Police Service in 1998 as part of measures to address the situation with domestic and sexual violence in the country, has been laudable.

We still need to work hard to stop paedophiles and other abusers. According to reports, data gathered by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) a few years ago showed that Ghana’s statistics on rape and defilement were high.

Nevertheless, data on child protection issues were becoming increasingly available in Ghana and other African countries, according to one study.

Sex offender register

As I mentioned earlier in this piece, in various countries, especially the advanced nations, a sex offender registry has been designed to enable government authorities to keep track of the activities of sex offenders. I think we need to institute a similar sex offender register in Ghana, if not already done. Thank you! 

By Perpetual Crentsil