Ghanaian advocates call for stricter vetting and license revocation for teachers accused of sexual abuse

The Young African Women Congress (YAWC) Network and former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum are calling for more rigorous disciplinary measures and background checks to protect students from sexual misconduct in schools.

Daniel Osei Tuffour, Executive Director of the YAWC Network, argued that the current practice of transferring teachers accused of sexual abuse to different schools is an inadequate response that leaves children at risk. He urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other authorities to implement tougher sanctions, including criminal prosecution and the permanent revocation of professional teaching licenses.

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has proposed establishing a sex offenders register and making mandatory fingerprint-based background checks a prerequisite for teacher licensing. He suggested amending the National Teaching Council Act to ensure that applicants are properly screened for criminal records, noting that current processes do not adequately prevent individuals with histories of misconduct from moving between public and private institutions.