Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Oduro-Owusu has beckoned students of the University to report issues of sexual harassment and misconduct directly to his office if all other avenues have been exhausted and proven unsatisfactory to the complainant.
The Vice-Chancellor was speaking at an open forum which was aimed at discussing “in its entirety the issue of sexual harassment, misconduct and other matters arising in the University community in recent times,”
“When all other avenues fail, please feel free to come to my office and report to me personally. When you get there, just tell the secretary it’s about sexual harassment and the door will be opened for you,” he said
His comments come on the back of concerns expressed by students over issues of confidentiality and general lack of confidence in the prescribed process of reporting such issues to the designated sexual harassment committee.
The Vice Chancellor also encouraged victims of sexual misconduct and harassment to find courage and report all cases.
Adding to that, Prof. Oduro-Owusu resolved to pursue issues brought before the committee to the later saying management would not shield any such individuals who have been fingered in a report.
“If you have been in such a situation, come and report. I am assuring you that we will make sure they are investigated and if the perpetrators are found guilty, we will deal with them appropriately” – he added.
According to Prof. Oduro-Owusu, the University of Ghana, under his leadership, is very prepared to prosecute matters of sexual harassment to their most logical conclusion.
Prof. Oduro Owusu however reaffirmed the University’s zero-tolerance for sexual harassment and misconduct, saying the University will take action against anyone who is found guilty of committing such acts.
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“What I have said is that if you’ve been implicated in a sexual misconduct, what it means it that you are a danger to our student, you cannot keep interacting with our students, so please leave and they leave” – he added.
“At least ever since I got into office or not, two lectures have been dismissed. What I have said is that if you’ve been implicated in a sexual misconduct, what it means it that you are a danger to our students. You cannot keep interacting with our students, so please leave and they leave” – he said.
Friday’s open forum comes in earnest to address the growing concerns of sexual harassment and misconduct among members of the University community.
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Also, in attendance were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs (ASA), Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research Innovation and Development (ORID), Professor Francis Dodoo, some representatives of the University’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, representatives from the Legon Chapter of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana as well as representatives from the Students Representative Council.
