Editorial: Sexual Harassment On University Campuses Must Be Addressed

More than 80 per cent of sexual harassment cases at the University of Ghana originate from students, the Secretary of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, Mercy Sowatey, has revealed. 

She has, therefore, called on students not to trivialise sexual harassment issues such as unwanted propositions and humiliating conduct, unsolicited advances and inappropriate gestures, among others.

“Don’t trivialise sexual harassment issues; sometimes we trivialize it, but until you get into trouble that is when you will know that ignorance is not an acceptable excuse within the university community.If we condone it here, out there they will not condone it,” she said at a seminar on March 31.

The seminar was on the theme, “Safe spaces: preventing sexual harassment on campus”.It was jointly organised by the Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation, an NGO focused on promoting youth development, human rights and social justice, and the Office of the Women’s Commission of the University of Ghana Students Representative Council.

Sexual harassment remains one of the most pervasive but under reported violations in academic spaces across the globe and university campuses are no exception.

Recent revelations by the Secretary of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee at the University of Ghana, Mercy Sowatey, bring a sobering truth to light, that over 80 per cent of sexual harassment cases at the University originate from students themselves. This is a wake-up call we can no longer afford to ignore.

For far too long, sexual harassment on campuses has either been swept under the rug, normalised or grossly trivialised. This entrenched culture of silence and disregard for victims creates unsafe learning environments and threatens the very foundation of our higher education institutions where safety, mutual respect and intellectual freedom should prevail.

What is perhaps even more disturbing is the subtle yet harmful way many students mischaracterise sexual harassment. Unsolicited advances, inappropriate gestures, humiliating comments and unwanted propositions are often dismissed as “jokes” or misinterpreted as expressions of admiration.

The implications of trivialising sexual harassment are enormous. First, it undermines the confidence and well-being of victims, who may already be reluctant to report incidents for fear of stigma, disbelief, or retaliation.

Second, it emboldens perpetrators and sends the dangerous message that such behaviors are acceptable or worse, inconsequential. And third, it erodes the credibility of academic institutions as safe and inclusive environments for intellectual growth.

The University of Ghana deserves commendation for establishing and maintaining a sexual harassment policy since 2010. But policies, while important, are only one part of the equation. Enforcement, education and culture change are just as critical.

That’s why the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee’s recent push, together with civil society organizations such as the POS Foundation, to raise awareness and foster safe spaces is both timely and laudable.

Indeed, the fact that five major public universities  – including KNUST, UCC, UEW and UDS have benefited from this campaign shows a growing recognition of the scale of the problem.

But seminars and policy documents must now translate into consistent action. Students, lecturers, and administrative staff alike must understand that eliminating sexual harassment is a collective responsibility.

To this end, universities must invest more heavily in preventive education. Orientation programmes should include compulsory modules on what constitutes sexual harassment, consent, and acceptable conduct within academic spaces.

Institutions must also build the capacity of students and staff to recognise, report, and respond to incidents without fear of reprisal. And critically, survivors must be provided with robust support systems from psychological counseling to legal aid.

Moreover, male students in particular need to be sensitised as part of this cultural shift. In a patriarchal society where power dynamics often skew in favor of men, it is crucial to engage young men as allies in dismantling toxic behaviors that lead to harassment. Gender equity cannot be achieved if young men are not equipped with the tools to challenge sexist attitudes and foster respectful relationships.

This is a fight for dignity, for equality, and for the future of Ghana’s youth. Universities must be safe havens for learning not breeding grounds for fear, shame, and impunity. We must call out, educate, and hold accountable those who choose to violate others.

Sexual harassment is not harmless. It is not flattering. It is not a rite of passage. It is violence, and it must stop now.

The post Editorial: Sexual Harassment On University Campuses Must Be Addressed appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story