From shock to action: Protecting our children from sexual abuse
The commentary commends Manasseh Azure’s documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, for drawing attention to sexual abuse in Ghanaian secondary schools. The author says the film has shocked many Ghanaians and left others unable to speak about what it portrays. As a researcher who has studied child sexual abuse extensively in Ghana, the writer has still not found the courage to watch the documentary because the story is so distressing. The author believes the film may reveal only the tip of a much wider abuse problem. Children can be harmed in places where they should feel safe, including schools and homes. Some of those responsible are people entrusted with children’s care and protection. The commentary warns that abuse can be committed by teachers, relatives, domestic workers, strangers and others who take advantage of a child’s vulnerability and trust. Its central appeal is to move beyond shock and confront the hidden scale of abuse.
I wish to commend Manasseh Azure for his documentary, Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow, which has brought renewed attention to the disturbing reality of sexual abuse in our secondary schools. May I confess that, as a researcher who has conducted extensive studies on child sexual abuse in Ghana, I have not yet gathered the courage to watch the documentary because of how horrifying and distressing the story is. Although it has shocked many Ghanaians and left others speechless, I fear that what it reveals may only be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the reality of child sexual abuse in our society. Many children are abused in places where they should feel safest, including their schools and homes. Sadly, some are abused by the very people entrusted with their care and protection. Perpetrators may include teachers, relatives, domestic workers, strangers, and others who exploit children's vulnerability and trust.