A teacher is among several suspects arrested over the defilement of six schoolchildren in the Upper East Region between July 2025 and March 2026.
According to a report by adomonline.com published on May 25, 2026, the cases were recorded in the Talensi District, Bawku Municipality and Bolgatanga Municipality.
Upper East Regional Gender Desk Officer Rita Mbamah expressed concern over the involvement of teachers in some of the abuse cases.
“If teachers, who are supposed to act as parents and protect these children, are rather the ones abusing them, then it means our children are not safe,” she said during a regional review meeting in Bolgatanga.
The Department of Gender organised the meeting with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
In Bolgatanga, a teacher has reportedly been arrested and granted bail in connection with two cases.
In Talensi, one suspect is currently in custody while another suspect is on the run.
Authorities in Bawku are also searching for a suspect linked to two separate cases.
The meeting further revealed that 376 pregnant girls and lactating mothers sat for the BECE and WASSCE examinations in the region during the same period.
The figures included 84 pregnant girls and 46 lactating mothers who sat for the BECE, while 111 pregnant girls and 135 lactating mothers sat for the WASSCE.
Officials also raised concerns about the difficulty in prosecuting abuse cases.
Sergeant Safia Salifu of DOVVSU said many complainants withdraw cases because of pressure from relatives and community members to settle matters outside the court system.
Assistant ADR Officer at the Legal Aid Commission, Farihan Mutaru, added that the absence of a resident lawyer and interference from families continue to affect the legal process.
Acting Regional Director of the Department of Gender, James Twene, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve support for victims.
UNFPA Focal Person Yvonne Wonchua also warned that poor data collection systems are making it difficult to secure resources for prevention and victim protection efforts.
