The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for investigations into allegations of sexual abuse of minors by adults entrusted with their care in schools, describing the reports as heartbreaking.
The concerns come amid ongoing national conversations about discipline in schools, accountability and the role of religious bodies in managing faith-based educational institutions.
In a communiqué issued after its annual plenary assembly in Jamasi in the Ashanti Region on Saturday, November 14, the bishops expressed concern about what they described as growing indiscipline in some educational institutions, including Catholic mission schools.
“Of immense concern too is the growing indiscipline in some educational institutions, including even some of our own mission schools,” the Conference stated.
It identified violence, disrespect for authority, examination malpractice and vandalism among the practices contributing to the decline in discipline within schools.
The bishops, however, singled out allegations of sexual abuse involving minors as particularly distressing, given that the victims were allegedly abused by adults placed in positions of trust and responsibility.
“Above all, it is heart-breaking to note allegations of the sexual abuse of some of our minors in schools by some adults under whose care they have been placed,” the communiqué stated.
The Conference said the allegations required serious attention and called on the relevant institutions to conduct impartial investigations rather than allow the matter to go unaddressed.
“We call upon the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, school authorities and the relevant departments of the Police to investigate these allegations dispassionately and let the law take its course,” the bishops said.
The concerns also informed the Conference’s call for a renewed commitment to discipline, moral education and character formation in the country’s educational institutions.
It stressed that schools must look beyond academic performance and place equal importance on instilling values that would guide students to become responsible members of society.
“Education must produce not merely academically competent individuals but responsible and morally grounded citizens,” the bishops emphasised.
On the administration of mission schools, the Conference called for stronger collaboration between the government and religious missions, saying the relationship must be guided by mutual respect, clearly defined responsibilities and fidelity to the founding ethos of the institutions.
The bishops also drew attention to the growing threats posed by drug trafficking and substance abuse, particularly to the development of young people.
They warned that substance abuse had implications for youth development, family stability, public health and national security, and called on schools and religious institutions to strengthen preventive education.