Bridget Bonnie, Head of Information and Public Affairs at the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, has condemned the alleged sexual abuse of female students by people entrusted with their care. She said young girls need protection and guidance rather than exploitation.
She made the remarks in a strongly worded statement.
Ms Bonnie is also the founder of the PEC Institute and lead for Bridget Bonnie and Friends.
She recalled her time as a Junior High School pupil, when a teacher she admired chose to guide and mentor her rather than take advantage of her youthful feelings. She said the teacher encouraged her to focus on her education, believe in her abilities and work towards a brighter future. She still remembers this with gratitude.
“That is what true mentorship looks like,” she said. She urged men, particularly teachers and mentors, to set appropriate boundaries and protect children who look up to them.
Ms Bonnie stressed that a child’s admiration for an adult should never be interpreted as consent or an opportunity for exploitation. She added that the responsibility for maintaining boundaries rests entirely with the adult.
“A child cannot be held responsible for an adult’s decision to exploit her. The responsibility lies entirely with the adult,” she stated.
Her comments follow a JoyNews investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. The report covered allegations of sexual abuse involving as many as 19 female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, including allegations of rape.
Ms Bonnie questioned whether alleged perpetrators who had not been exposed believed they had escaped accountability simply because their victims had not come forward.
She also criticised what she described as a recurring cycle. In her account, allegations of abuse trigger public outrage before attention fades, only for similar cases to emerge later.
“We need more than social media outrage. We need accountability. We need institutions that take complaints seriously, protect victims and ensure that those found guilty face the full rigours of the law,” she said.
Source: https://prekehmedia.com/
