The Ministry of Education has called on tertiary institutions across Ghana to move beyond the mere adoption of anti-sexual harassment policies and focus on their effective implementation to ensure safer learning and working environments for students and staff.
According to the Ministry, while many institutions have developed policies aimed at addressing sexual harassment, the true measure of their effectiveness lies in how well they are enforced and whether victims can confidently access reporting and support mechanisms when incidents occur.
The call was made by Harriet Krakani, Deputy Director of the Tertiary Directorate at the Ministry of Education, during a multi-tertiary stakeholder conference held in Accra. The conference was organized by the Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation in collaboration with Amplify Change and was themed, “From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Survivor Centred Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response in Tertiary Institutions.”
Addressing participants, Ms. Krakani emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating sexual harassment within educational institutions and ensuring that students and staff are protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation. “Government is unequivocal in its position that sexual harassment has no place in our educational institution,” she stated.
She noted that sexual harassment remains a serious concern within educational settings, with consequences that extend beyond individual victims. According to her, such misconduct undermines the dignity, safety and wellbeing of students and staff, negatively affects academic performance and workplace productivity, and can damage the reputation and credibility of educational institutions.
Ms. Krakani stressed that institutions must adopt a proactive approach rather than reacting only after incidents have occurred. She argued that preventing sexual harassment requires the creation of institutional cultures that promote respect, accountability and safety.
“Our response must therefore go beyond dealing with incidents after they occur. We must create institutional cultures where sexual harassment is actively prevented, reporting is encouraged, survivors are treated with dignity and confidentiality and perpetrators are held accountable,” she said.
The Deputy Director further highlighted the importance of establishing robust systems that support victims and encourage reporting. She explained that students and staff are often reluctant to report incidents due to fear of victimization, stigma, or a lack of confidence in institutional processes.
To address this challenge, she urged tertiary institutions to strengthen reporting structures and ensure that survivors have access to counselling, referral services and other forms of assistance. She said institutions must guarantee confidentiality and fairness throughout the reporting and investigation process to build trust among students and employees.
“The real test is whether these policies are effectively implemented and whether students and staff can confidently access appropriate reporting, support and referral mechanisms when they need them,” she added.
Ms. Krakani reiterated that policies alone cannot solve the problem of sexual harassment. Instead, she said institutions must ensure that policies are widely communicated, understood by all stakeholders and backed by practical measures that facilitate implementation. The conference brought together representatives from tertiary institutions, civil society organizations, student groups, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening survivor-centred responses to sexual harassment in higher education institutions.
Participants examined challenges that often hinder effective implementation of anti-sexual harassment policies, including limited awareness, inadequate reporting channels, fear of retaliation and insufficient support services for survivors.
The Ministry of Education also highlighted ongoing efforts by government agencies to strengthen institutional frameworks aimed at addressing sexual harassment. Ms. Krakani disclosed that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has developed comprehensive guidelines for anti-sexual harassment policies within tertiary institutions.
According to her, the guidelines provide institutions with a framework for prevention, reporting, response, protection and enforcement. They are intended to help institutions establish clear procedures for handling complaints and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. She encouraged universities, technical universities, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions to fully align their policies and procedures with the GTEC guidelines.
The Ministry believes that consistent implementation of these guidelines will contribute significantly to creating safer and more inclusive campuses where students can pursue their education without fear of harassment or intimidation.
Stakeholders at the conference also underscored the need for continuous awareness campaigns and training programmes for students, lecturers and administrative staff. Such initiatives, they argued, would help foster a culture of respect, educate members of the academic community about their rights and responsibilities, and encourage early reporting of incidents. The event formed part of broader efforts by civil society organizations and government agencies to address gender-based violence and promote safe educational environments across the country.
As concerns about sexual harassment continue to attract public attention, the Ministry of Education maintains that institutions must demonstrate a stronger commitment to translating policy into action. Officials believe that creating effective reporting systems, providing adequate support for survivors and ensuring accountability for offenders are essential steps toward eliminating sexual harassment in Ghana’s tertiary education sector.
With the government reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on sexual harassment, tertiary institutions are being urged to strengthen implementation efforts and work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that campuses remain safe, inclusive and supportive spaces for learning and personal development.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah