In a communiqué released after its annual plenary assembly in Jamasi, Ashanti Region, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference demanded that allegations of sexual abuse of minors by adults in charge of schools be investigated with impartiality and the law applied. The bishops described the reports as heartbreaking and called on the relevant authorities to take the matter seriously.
The statement also highlighted a broader concern over growing indiscipline in schools, including Catholic mission schools. It cited violence, disrespect for authority, examination malpractice and vandalism as contributing factors to the decline in discipline. The bishops stressed that schools should focus not only on academic performance but also on moral education and character formation.
In addition, the bishops warned of the rising threat of drug trafficking and substance abuse among young people, urging schools and religious institutions to strengthen preventive education. They called for a renewed partnership between the government and religious missions, grounded in mutual respect and clear responsibilities, to preserve the founding ethos of mission schools.
Moving forward, the conference has asked the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, school authorities and the relevant police departments to conduct dispassionate investigations and allow the law to take its course. The bishops emphasized the need for a collective effort to protect children and uphold discipline in Ghana’s educational institutions.
