Sexual Assault and Harassment in Ghana
Introduction
According to Rainn.org sexual assault is defined as sexual contact or activity that occurs without the victim's explicit consent. Attempts at rape, fondling, defilement, or other inappropriate contact are some examples of sexual assault. Sexual harassment is described as unwanted and uninvited sexual approaches, requests for sexual favors, and other sexual verbal or physical contact that creates a hostile or uncomfortable environment. According to theworld.org at least 40 cases of sexual assault cases are recorded every day. In the circumstance of rape, this is typically dependent on those who can afford rape kits to prove that they have been sexually assaulted. Those who cannot afford rape kits, which are usually around 500 Ghana Cedis, can't get justice for themselves. There are many penalties for sexual assault and harassment but this usually varies based on the severity of the case and what the court's verdict is.
Rape and Defilement
When it comes to sexual assault, the most notable instances are defilement and rape. According to Rainn.org rape is a type of sexual assault that involves sexual penetration without consent. There are many different types of rape like Date rape, gang rape, marital rape, rape of children (defilement), statutory rape, prison rape, serial rape, etc. Although there are various types of rape, Ghanaian law only classifies some of them as criminal offenses. For example, marital rape is not an offense in Ghana. According to Barefootlaw.org defilement is having sexual intercourse with a person (this includes both boys and girls) under the age of 16 years. It doesn't matter whether the person has given consent or not.
Consent
​People need to be aware of the significance of consent in cases like this. An agreement between the two parties facilitates the avoidance of an allegation or case of sexual assault or harassment. The act of agreeing to something or giving permission for something to happen is known as consent. However, in this sense, it is an agreement made by all those involved to engage in sexual behavior. Depending on the standards or circumstances, different punishments may be imposed for engaging in sexual activity without consent. For example, even if a child under the age of 15 consents to sexual conduct, it can still be prosecuted as statutory rape. This is due to the fact that consent to sexual activity by anyone under the age of 16 is prohibited. If a person gives consent to sexual contact but then changes their mind, the encounter must terminate. If the other partner continues to engage in sexual activity, it turns into sexual assault or rape. As is evident, several technical issues are connected to the topic of consent.
Prevention
When it comes to prevention, there are numerous ways to keep safe. Although these precautionary measures may assist to keep us safe, they are not a foolproof technique to help shield us from this, thus we must always be careful and alert when venturing out into the world. Many preventative measures could help keep us safe, but these are a handful that we think could be incredibly effective.
Set boundaries in your personal space, social space, and emotional space.
This is very important because it is crucial to let others know what you are comfortable with and are not comfortable with. No matter how close you are to certain people, if you are not comfortable with what they do, it is important to let them know. If they do not adhere to your warnings then it is advised that you report to a higher authority for further action to be taken.
Always be in a safe environment.
This is crucial especially if you are going out with someone you don't entirely trust and even people you trust. Being in a public well-lit place with many people can drastically decrease the chances of someone sexually assaulting or harassing you. This is because no one will attempt to harass you in a public setting but if they do you can choose to scream and draw attention to yourself or ask someone around you for help.
If you are attending a public event never leave your drink unattended.
Never leave your drink when you are out and about at a social event. This is due to the possibility of someone spiking your beverage by adding drugs or alcohol to it. As soon as they do this, you are open to attack. So be cautious to safeguard your drink, don't return to it if you leave it unattended, and don't trust anyone with it.
Watch out for signs
Trust your instincts if you don't feel at ease with someone or if you have a negative feeling about them. After that, start observing them and how they behave and speak around you. It's time for you to set limits and distance yourself if you're sensing that someone is interested in you with bad intentions.
If everything else fails and you are about to be assaulted, you must be prepared to defend yourself. Visit our help page where you can find videos from YouTube that can teach you some self-defense skills.