The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has noted its plans to review the current anti-sexual harassment policies in the various private universities.
This comes on the back of the documentary released by BBC Africa Eye on cases of sexual harassment by some lecturers in tertiary institutions.
National President of the Association, Charles Opoku in a statement said that they have asked all member institutions to provide them with comprehensive details of their anti-harassment policies, after which they will discuss and make amendments to them.
PUSAG further pledged to work in their best efforts to enhance Private Tertiary Education in the country.
Read the full statement:
Following the BBC’s documentary dubbed “Sex for grades” and the subsequent revelations emanating from the engagements with students coupled with concerns raised by right-thinking members of society on social and traditional media, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has written to all member institutions to furnish the council with comprehensive details on institution-specific anti-sexual harassment policies detailing the following:
- Conducts of lecturers and students that amount to sexual harassment.
- Instituted measures to prevent sexual harassment against both students and lecturers.
- Punishment for culprits (Students and Lecturers) of Sexual Harassment
- Instituted measures to protect students and lecturers who fall victim and file a case against culprits of “Sex for Grades” and “Grades for sex” respectively.
- Dress code for both students and lecturers.
- Strategies to sensitize stakeholders on the existing anti-sexual harassment policy.
NEC, upon receipt of the anti-sexual harassment policies from member institutions, shall constitute a committee to analyze them and proffer recommendations directed at plugging all loopholes inherent in the existing ones. Report from the committee shall form the basis for further engagements with management of member institutions ostensibly to craft a more robust and effective policies on Sexual Harassment for their respective institutions.
The issues of “sex for grades” and “grades for sex” are not myths. They are worrying phenomena prevalent in tertiary institutions across the globe that must be tackled head-on.
Fighting this canker can only yield results if institutions have robust and effective systems that do not only punish offenders but protect victims from undue victimization after they have filed complaints against culprits.
As the body responsible for the educational, cultural and moral safety of Private Universities Students in Ghana, PUSAG will take up the uphill battle to, if not rid off sexual harassment completely from member institutions, reduce its dominance significantly.
In view of the foregoing, PUSAG has set up a unit to receive complaints about sexual harassment and related issues. NEC shall pursue every single complaint filed to its logical conclusion and collaborate with management of member institutions to eradicate this canker.
In conclusion, PUSAG assures students, lecturers, and the general public that we will at all times work diligently to uphold standards in order to enhance Private Tertiary Education in Ghana.