The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has condemned the handling of a sexual abuse allegation involving a 14-year-old student of Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS), describing the school’s disciplinary action against the student as a “textbook case of institutional betrayal.”

🇬🇭 Here's What Happened

The national umbrella body for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities is demanding the immediate reversal of all disciplinary sanctions imposed on the student, who has autism and was allegedly sexually abused by two watchmen employed by the school.

In a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, the GFD said the student should have been treated primarily as a child requiring protection and support rather than as a perpetrator of sexual misconduct.

The Federation said an internal school correspondence dated July 20, 2026, declared the student “guilty of sexual misconduct” and recommended her dismissal under the Ghana Education Service (GES) Code of Conduct.

📌 Key Details

According to the GFD, the sanction was subsequently reduced to the withdrawal of her boarding status for one academic year.

The organisation questioned the basis for imposing disciplinary sanctions on a 14-year-old in connection with alleged sexual conduct involving adults.

It argued that under Ghanaian law, a child below 16 cannot legally consent to sexual intercourse with an adult and that, if the allegations against the two watchmen are established, criminal responsibility rests with the alleged perpetrators.

The GFD said it was particularly concerned that disciplinary action appeared to have been taken before the matter was fully addressed as a child-protection and safeguarding case.

The two watchmen have since been arrested and interdicted by the GES following public attention surrounding the case.

They have been handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.

📰 Source: Joy Online Ghana