By Collins Sarkodieh 
A prominent gender advocacy organization is pushing for absolute transparency following a disturbing school incident. The group, On This Side LBG, has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that investigations into the alleged sexual misconduct at Bole Senior High School lead to concrete criminal prosecution rather than just basic administrative paperwork.
The sharp corporate demand follows the circulation of a viral video on social media depicting inappropriate sexual conduct involving a male teacher and a student. While the GES has officially interdicted the teacher, the rights group insists that the state must go deeper to protect vulnerable children.
The advocacy group heavily criticized portions of the initial GES press statement that described the incident as an amorous relationship. The group argues that using such soft language completely overlooks the massive, unequal power dynamics that exist naturally between school instructors and their students.
Under Ghanaian law, if a student is under the age of sixteen, any sexual activity is legally treated as defilement regardless of any claims of consent. Using romantic terms undermines the true severity of the allegations, so state institutions must adopt survivor-centered language to ensure the public understands the criminal nature of these actions.
To prevent the matter from being quietly swept under the carpet, the rights group wants the case transferred directly to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service. Relying solely on internal school boards often leads to institutional silence once public anger cools down.
The group is recommending a published, time-bound update on the outcome of the Bole SHS investigation alongside immediate, confidential psychosocial counseling for the affected student. The state must prioritize healing the victim over protecting the image of the second-cycle institution.
The organization wants the Ministry of Education to initiate a nationwide review of safeguarding protocols across all second-cycle schools. This should include establishing stronger, highly confidential whistleblowing channels where students can report abusive behaviors without fearing academic victimization.
School authorities must organize mandatory training sessions for all teaching and non-teaching staff regarding professional boundaries and strict child protection laws. True justice means moving beyond a single press release to build a safe, secure learning environment for every Ghanaian child.
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