By Ruth Serwaa Asare
For years, conversations around child sexual abuse in Ghana have largely focused on girls. But health experts say boys are increasingly becoming victims, and society’s silence is making matters worse.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 26, two members of the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. Hilda Mantey, President of the Society and Child Protection Specialist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and Dr. Diana Hagan, a Social Development Consultant, shed light on the growing threat facing young boys.
Dr. Mantey explained that while data is limited, the statistics available are alarming. “Research shows that one in five girls and about one in 20 boys experience sexual abuse. Unfortunately, the boys are not left out. At Korle Bu alone, we record at least 50 cases a year, and even that is just a fraction of what really happens.”
Unlike the stereotype that girls are the only victims, Dr. Hagan noted that boys are increasingly being targeted in schools and communities. “Perpetrators now walk into public schools during break time and lure little boys with gifts, biscuits, or money. Some even take them to uncompleted buildings and abuse them. By the time parents realize, the boys are already in pain but too afraid or too young to identify their abusers.”
She stressed that boys, just like girls, face stigma that silences them. “Because we live in a patriarchal society, people often dismiss boys’ stories. They assume it can’t happen to them, or worse, they laugh it off when boys are abused by older women. But abuse is abuse, no matter the gender of the child or perpetrator.”
The experts revealed that cultural attitudes play a huge role in underreporting. Parents fear their children will be labelled as “spoilt,” or that their masculinity will be questioned if they speak up. “Parents sometimes think their boys should just ‘shake it off,’ but the trauma is real. Boys are abused by both men and women, and the consequences on their mental health and future relationships are devastating,” Dr. Mantey warned.
Although Ghana’s laws against defilement and rape are strong, conviction rates remain low. Many families abandon legal processes midway due to stigma, lengthy court procedures, or in exchange for compensation. “How can you put a price on a child’s trauma? Settling cases at home denies victims justice and healing. It allows perpetrators to return and prey on other children,” Dr. Hagan emphasized.
The doctors urged parents and guardians to be vigilant, to listen to their children, and to challenge predatory behaviours that are often normalized. “When someone jokingly calls your child ‘my wife’ or ‘my husband,’ stop them. That is grooming. Parents must take such remarks seriously and draw boundaries,” Dr. Mantey advised. They further encouraged children to learn how to say “No,” avoid being alone in adults’ rooms, and always report uncomfortable advances.
The experts concluded by stressing that ending child sexual abuse, whether against boys or girls, requires collective responsibility. Families, schools, health workers, and law enforcement must all play their part. “Every child deserves protection, regardless of gender. Abuse leaves scars that last a lifetime, and silence only protects the abuser. Believe children when they speak,” Dr. Hagan urged.
One Response
Wonderful piece, worth reading