Violence Against Women (Feature)

This should appear in tomorrows paper :)

Violence against women is both a cause and a consequence of deep-rooted inequality between men and women and it devastates lives. It fractures communities and destroys families. Domestic violence, rape, child and/or forced marriages, female circumcision and other forms of gender-based violence are obstacles to achieving gender equality in every nation. It is a violation of women's fundamental human rights, including the right to life; the right to health and physical and mental integrity; and the right to be free from torture, inhumane and degrading treatment. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, impeding the right of women to participate fully in activities of society.
Research indicates that domestic violence continues to increase in many countries, including Ghana, where many women are unaware that it is a form of illegal abuse and they are well within their legal rights to inform the police.
 It is seen as inevitable and deemed to be part of marital life. Alarmingly, a proportion of men find it incredulous to be questioned about their actions in relation to such abuse, let alone being arrested.
 During a discussion with a young girl about marriage, she informed me that “my husband would beat me if I didn’t do as he so wished.”  What troubled me the most about this conversation was that the girl in question didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with a husband beating his wife. She nonchalantly informed me it was just something that happened and seemed bemused when I explained it was a serious offence in the Western world. I find that kind of acceptance frightening and difficult to comprehend.
It is somewhat disturbing, especially to someone who grew up in a Western society, that until 1993 the alarming global dimensions of female-targeted violence was not explicitly acknowledged by the international community. Until that point, most governments (in developing nations) tended to regard violence against women largely as a private matter between individuals, and not as a pervasive human rights problem requiring State intervention. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women without vote in its resolution 48/104 of 20 December 1993.
Contained within it is the recognition of "the urgent need for the universal application to women of the rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of all human beings". The resolution is often seen as complementary to, and a strengthening of, the work of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. It recalls and embodies the same rights and principles as those enshrined in such instruments as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the end of that year.
In Ghana, The Domestic Violence Act was passed in 2007 and it is aimed at protecting women and children from domestic violence. As a result women’s advocacy groups have stepped up their programmes and activities. The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), formerly Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU), was established by the Police Administration in 1998 in response to the increasing number of Abuse and Violence Against Women and Children. The purpose for setting up DOVVSU was also to create a platform where women and children could have their problems properly addressed. This became necessary because most cases on violence against women and children were treated as mere family issues which were to be settled at home.
Despite this, domestic violence is still a critical issue and women are still reluctant to admit that they are victims of abuse. For many it can be embarrassing and/or humiliating. In a country where divorce is still reasonably infrequent it can be difficult for a woman to walk away from a marriage without feeling she has inflicted shame on her family.
Women are often described as being the ‘backbone’ of society, especially in developing nations. The United Nations Development Fund has stated that violence against women is a hindrance to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It hampers productivity, reduces human capital and undermines economic growth. Women in rural areas are more vulnerable to domestic violence, perhaps due to a lack of education and availability of information and help. For many women it is fear that stops them breaking away from a violent relationship. This is true of women worldwide and across the globe NGOs are working to address this precarious issue. But in Ghana the issue of domestic violence is still considered by many to be a taboo. There’s little help for women in terms of refuge or support services which are abundant in Western society.
As Ghana works at moving above a lower middle income country, the empowerment of women is more significant. Women need to be aware of their rights and have the courage to stand up to abusive husbands/boyfriends. The youth need to be educated about the seriousness of domestic violence and girls especially, need to be taught that is it wrong for their husbands to physically abuse them.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.

Caning in Ghana Schools

Published Today :)

It is often impossible to turn on the television or read a newspaper without being subjected to disturbing images of brutality. Soap operas regularly use plots involving murder, rape and cruelty. Children grow up exposed to violence in everyday society and unfortunately for many, it’s an emblematic representation of their school life.
Caning is rife in schools in Ghana. It is theoretically used as a form of punishment for a student and behaviour that is deemed unacceptable in the classroom. In 2009, a child from the Central Region was caned so brutally by her teacher that she later died from her injuries. This appalling act should never have been allowed to happen in a civilised society.
My own teaching experience indicated that there was no differentiation on the number of slaps inflicted on the child. A child who stole, turned up late for school or disrupted the lesson was given the same as a child who simply didn’t know the answer to a question asked by the teacher. It is very difficult to comprehend such behaviour when surely, the role of a teacher is to educate, not chastise a child who is struggling to understand a particular question or subject.
The continuous use of the cane in the school environment imprints on the minds of children that violence is the best way to resolve issues. During my time working as a teacher , I’d frequently witnessed small children fighting, often hitting, punching, slapping and biting each other.
 One has to wonder if the prevalence of this behaviour stems from the daily use of the cane in the classroom.
On one occasion when I worked as a teacher, a girl from the kindergarten class was caught stealing food from another pupil’s bag. The girl was immediately led outside to the playground, and beaten so badly with a large plank of wood that she started bleeding and lost one of her teeth. Afterwards, she was told to sit down and was ignored for the rest of the day.
No mention was made of the reasons why the child was compelled to go looking for food. I’ve witnessed children being caned simply because they were in the way of the teacher as they walked past, for accidently dropping a pen during a lesson or for whispering to a friend in the classroom. Some teachers seemed to do it purely without cause or reason, and showed delight in doing so.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has said they frown upon the unnecessary use of the cane in classroom and asked that if a child is to be caned, is it done out of the classroom and to a maximum of six times. This is something that I feel has to be strictly enforced and adhered to.
Using the cane excessively as a means of discipline is never going to work. It is an infringement of human and child rights to beat a child for not knowing the answer to a mathematics problem or not understanding the differences between ‘their,’ and ‘there.’ This is surely a sign of failure on the part of the teacher, yet time and time again, students are caned for those sort of reasons.
This type of behaviour on the part of the teacher instils fear in children and could possibly cause them to be afraid to speak up in class.
Physical violence as a means of discipline is not in the best interest of the child. There is no way to monitor the level of abuse suffered by children, often for things that are insignificant and would benefit from other forms of punishment. I’ve spoken to a number of children who said they’d prefer different punishments such as weeding or cleaning. For older children especially, continuous use of the cane can be humiliating.
Compared to working with schoolchildren in my home country of Scotland, Ghanaian children are extremely respectful and well-behaved in the classroom and have the utmost respect for authority and adults. Admittedly this could stem from fear of the cane on the part of the child, but I believe In Ghana, respect for elders is a deep- rooted cultural value, something which is severely lacking in Scotland.
Using the cane is a complex issue. I understand why some teachers feel the need to use it; coping with large classes is no easy task and for many, it’s something they’ve been brought up with, and believe in; change is not going to come easily.
But instilling fear in a child is not a good teaching method. I know children who are so terrified of their teacher they literally hide every time they see them outside the classroom. I believe it is time for teachers to adapt to new methods of discipline that do not require the use of the cane.

Leymah Gwobee..

I was lucky enough to attend a speech by Leymah Gwobee, one of the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize 2011 at an event in Accra. She is an incredible lady and it was wonderful to hear her talk so passionately about her struggle to fight for women's rights in Liberia and her work in the immediate aftermath of the end of the civil war. It was definitely one of the more interesting assignments I’ve been sent to work on. I don’t think I‘d ever get the same kind of opportunities back home. I’ve been to numerous United Nations conferences on development and women’s rights (which I’m pretty passionate about) and some product launches which come with a lot of freebies which is nice! I was at the British Council last week for the launch of a Sports Development initiative which sounds pretty interesting; I had a little chat with the high commissioner!

Ghana is wonderful, hot, sticky and at times extremely frustrating. I don’t know why men think it’s okay to grab random white women as they walk past and beg them to buy their stuff. And I could definitely live without the incessant honking by taxi drives..

But spending a Saturday in November lounging by a pool with a cocktail is not exactly a hard life…

My articles...

Hey everyone :)

My previous blogs are all feature articles i've had published in The Daily Graphic...obviously written in their own house style which is a little different to say the least..thanks for reading! :)

Let's go to Church..(feature article)

Living in Ghana as a Westerner can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Cultural differences are ubiquitous and it can take time to adjust to what can be a strange and alien environment for first time visitors. I first visited Ghana four years ago, working as a teacher in a primary and junior high school in Senya Beraku in the Central Region.

The incessant attention from taxi drivers, the pungent smell coming from the roadside drains, the intense sun and the abject poverty are just some of the challenges that foreigners have to face. One thing that really makes an impression is the blatant promotion of religion.

Loudspeakers blast gospel music at a horrific intensity, people preach through loudspeakers on street corners and shops, restaurants and bars are plastered with slogans like, ‘Christ is Fashion Women’s Wear,’ ‘The Lord is my Shepherd Chop Bar,’ ‘God is Wonderful Furniture Works,’ and ‘Jesus Loves Nails Salon,’ to name a few.

Tro-tro’s bear slogans such as ‘Jesus Loves Me,’ ‘God is Good,’ and ‘Have Faith in Me.’ Often I’ve been waiting for a car to fill up and had a passenger start quoting the Bible or had a pastor jump on board to bless the journey. I don’t think I’ll ever forget my very first evening in Senya Beraku, when excited but overwhelmed by the culture shock, I took a walk in the area outside my house and ended up meeting an elderly woman, dressed from head to toe in bright blue and pink material.

She cried out ‘welcome, welcome!’ before peering into my face and promptly asking what church I attended. She smiled at me inquisitively, her face inches from my own. For a few seconds I was perplexed, my mind whirling as I frantically tried to respond to her in a competent manner. I tentatively told her I attended the Church of Scotland where the services are comparable to those of the Methodist Church.

To my relief she grinned and shook my hand, and joyfully told me she too attended a Methodist Church and told me I must one day attend with her. I smiled and said I would love to, keen to experience as much of Ghanaian life as possible. Before anything else could be said she quickly turned and walked away, leaving me in a state of bewilderment.

I had only been in Ghana for a matter of hours before this encounter. To this day I do not know the woman’s name or even what church she attended.

Religion is deeply valued and respected in Ghana, with 90 percent of Ghanaians said to attend church on a weekly basis. I have been fortunate to have attended many services and can honestly say I enjoyed each and every one. I love the lively music, beautiful singing and crazy and uninhibited dancing. I’ve noticed that many people in Ghana use church as a social gathering, and I love the sense of community spirit that you get from attending a service.

It is a sharp contrast from church in my home country of Scotland. Services barely last forty five minutes and it is often a very serious, rigid affair. There is certainly no dancing in the aisle or live band playing gospel music.

It is estimated that only one in ten people attend church in Scotland. I find this deeply discontenting and after witnessing the dozens of people in attendance at any one service in Ghana, I often think Scottish churches could learn a lot from ones in Ghana.

It is a sad fact that in the Western World we are often too busy to relax or take time to attend church. Unfortunately Sunday is no longer a ‘day of rest,’ for many people, is it rather a day just like every other. Shops remain open and after an exhausting week at work many just want to relax with their families.

 I often wish that my home country would incorporate some the things I love so much about church in Ghana and perhaps it would encourage more people to attend.

However, I do think services in Ghana are unnecessarily long. I’ve often sat for over three hours in the stifling heat, listening to Pastors shout fanatically through a microphone as if by yelling things will be more coherent. I’ve watched as old ladies fall asleep and people chat on their mobile phones. I’ve noticed people leaving half way through the service, or turning up in the middle. Is there really the need to spend the better part of a Sunday morning in church?

The completely excessive levels of noise leave a lot to be desired. I was often woken at 4am whilst living in Senya Beraku by singing, praying or preaching and it usually didn’t end until early morning. It is frustrating and irritating not being able to sleep because of church. Is it really necessary to spend half the night praying as loudly as possible?

Without so much emphasis on religion on a day to day basis, I feel there is no need to continue when the rest of the country is trying to sleep.

Recently, The Christian Council of Ghana urged churches to comply with directives of city authorities not to make too much noise.

An Obrouni Living in An Obibini World: Rubbish in Ghana

An Obrouni Living in An Obibini World: Rubbish in Ghana: When browsing around Kasoa market in Ghana - especially as a foreigner - it is impossible not to be mesmerized by the many different sights ...

David Cameron just like Gaddafi

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‘Your Prime Minister is just like Gaddafi,’ someone told me furiously, gesturing wildly with their hands as they attempted to explain exactly why David Cameron, the United Kingdom’s leader had committed similar atrocities to that of the late Libyan Dictator.

I was then told, in vulgar and graphic detail why lifting a ban on homosexuality would be an atrocious act and was subject to a torrent of mostly misinterpreted and parochial arguments.

 Ever since David Cameron announced plans to cut aid payments to countries unless they reform legislation that bans sexuality I have heard talk of little else. The newspapers have been filled with articles discussing the topic and I’ve heard countless radio interviews asking the opinion of the public.

The UK Prime Minister raised the issue of homosexuality, with references to Ghana and Uganda, with some of the states involved at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia. He has asked that countries adhere to proper human rights for all its citizens and he stated that those wishing to receive aid from the UK should accept the conditions that comply with foreign aid.

As someone who grew up in a Western society, I find it difficult to comprehend such prejudices when a person’s sexual orientation has no direct effect on one’s own life in any shape or form. I have been taught to accept people in-spite of their background, race, religion and other characteristics or personality traits.

It goes without saying that the significance of cultural differences and beliefs cannot be ignored. Everyone has the right to express their opinion but it is difficult for me to fathom when people are denying their brother and sisters the basic human right of freedom.

 Ghana is a country which places such an emphasis on the extended family and referring to everyone as ‘my brother,’ or ‘my sister,’ but to see one group excluded simply because they are attracted to the same sex is not something I can easily accept.

The reaction in Ghana has been, in my eyes, disturbing. President John Evans Atta Mills has refused to comply with Cameron’s threats and says he will never legalise homosexuality. I have broached the subject with many Ghanaians and the response has always been the same, usually that is it ‘unnatural and morally wrong.’

Perhaps because I have been taught to believe it’s acceptable to love who you wish to do so that I find it extremely hard to see things from a different point of view. I believe a lack of understanding and education about homosexuality is a cause of a lot of the unsettling comments.

I feel that the media has largely contextualised the original announcement, has denounced Mr Cameron and his government and obstinately stated that the people of Ghana will never accept homosexuality. Since the announcement, the print and broadcast media has gone on a tangent, bombarding the news with sensationalised stories and expressions of disgust and resentment towards the UK Prime Minister.

I am by no means an activist for the gay community and I do not believe Mr Cameron has the right to tell other countries how they should live their lives. However, I believe it is the right of every human being to live without fear of persecution or ridicule due to their sexual orientation. You cannot help who you fall in love with.

I am not suggesting homosexuality has to be accepted by every single Ghanaian; that is idealistic and is not even true of the UK, USA and Australia, where there are still anti-gay sentiments.

I do not believe foreign aid should have strong stipulations and I feel it is wrong to try to inflict Western values onto countries receiving foreign aid.

I am not a supporter of the UK’s Conservative government and often find it difficult to understand the decisions made. But on this occasion I am inclined to agree. A ban of homosexuality encroaches on basic freedoms and human rights. As long as people are not directly affecting the rights of others I see no reason why the legalisation of homosexuality would make that much of a difference to everyday lives.

Acts of homosexuality has no direct impact on the state of the economy and the overall well being of the people. Perhaps it is time to concentrate on issues that have a direct effect on development and well being, such as issues relating to education, female empowerment, unemployment and the state of the economy.

 Ghana  only has a 79 percent female enrolment at primary school level; 30 percent of the population is illiterate and 45 percent of the population live on under two cedi a day; meaning they are living in extreme poverty, according to the United Nations world-wide poverty scale.

Children beg on the streets around Circle and homelessness is rife. I have a close Ghanaian friend who works as a teacher and he is often not paid on time and struggles to get by on a daily basis. I find it quite astonishing that there has been so much focus in recent days over homosexuality when the above issues are critical to the development of Ghana.

I have been encouraged by the few articles I have read, by Ghanaians, in full support of the gay community and cannot help but suspect there are many more keeping quiet out of fear.

 If homosexual acts are harshly punished what sort of punishments are there for those who commit crimes such as rape or murder? Two people enjoying the sexual company of each other in their own, private home has no impact on any other persons.

Mr Cameron is not asking for Ghana to allow gay marriage; he is simply asking that basic human rights be adhered to for citizens.

 I only with that one day it will be tolerated, allowing the gay community to have the same human rights as everyone else.

Rubbish in Ghana

When browsing around Kasoa market in Ghana - especially as a foreigner - it is impossible not to be mesmerized by the many different sights and sounds amid the chaos of sellers and customers. Ladies selling beautifully patterned cloth call on you to look at their material, insisting they’ll give you a good price. Young men enthusiastically shout at you to look at their paintings, hand-made beads and necklaces or piles of shoes and slippers. The constant shouts of ‘pure water’ can be heard from every corner and the fresh smell of fried plantain and fish tantalizes the taste buds. Small children giggle and call out ‘obrouni’ (white person) as you walk past and then dissolve into fits of laughter when you call them ‘obibini.’(black person) Hawkers and shoppers push by, their purchases balanced precariously on their heads.
But in among the dozens of stalls selling everything from fresh vegetables to raw fish, from Kente cloth to second hand Western style clothing is the stream of rubbish that litters the ground with every step you take. The air is filled with the pungent vapours of stale urine and rotten food. It is often impossible to walk a few feet without getting your shoe caught up in a plastic bag or have one flutter by you in a gust of wind. It could be said that many Ghanaians don’t care about how they dispose of their waste or are unaware of how to do it correctly.
In Ghana plastic bags are ubiquitous; they are handed out with pretty much every purchase made, be it a sachet of water or six yards of material. Unfortunately they are usually tossed aside after use and can be found caught in fences or shrub and stuck to the branches of trees. In a more serious matter they often clog up drains or water resources.
Poor drainage systems and drains blocked up by rubbish were some of the reasons given for the recent floods in Accra. Although flooding is inevitable after such heavy rains, it is something one cannot help but consider; if the drains had been free of rubbish would the flooding have been quite so catastrophic.
A 2009 study by the University of Ghana estimated that about 83 percent of the population dump their refuse in either authorised or unauthorised sites in their neighbourhood, and due to weak capacity to handle solid waste, unsanitary conditions are created. Rubbish tips become a breeding ground for the spread of disease and the breeding of vermin.
I have been fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time working and travelling around Ghana. I love the genuine friendliness and warmth of the people, the stunning palm fringed coastlines that could rival any in the world and the wonderful beat of the highlife music. In 2008 I spent six months teaching at Mother Teresa School for Girls’ in Senya Beraku in the Central Region where I was initially shocked by the pupils’ attitudes to rubbish.
They thought nothing of dropping their little at their feet or simply throwing it into the bush area behind the school or out of the classroom windows. I understand that this is not the fault of the children; after all they are only doing what they have been taught and witnessed by those around them.
On a recent visit back to the school i was delighted by the presence of rubbish bins outside the classroom and the sight of small children using them to dispose of their waste. During a sports day for all the schools in Senya Beraku, the Head Mistress of Mother Teresa School ensured that after the event every pupil picked up her rubbish and there was nothing left in the area the school had occupied. Unfortunately none of the other schools’ followed this example.
I feel it is unfortunate that such a beautiful country has such an issue with the disposal of waste. Nothing is more dis-heartening than walking along a gorgeous beach along the coast of Axim, Cape Coast or Takoradi only to discover rubbish hidden in the sand and floating by the shore. In Ghana It is estimated that waste produced from plastic packaging amounts to 270 tons per day.
One company trying to make use of the rubbish is ‘Trashy Bags’, a shop based in Accra that makes bags, purses and other items out of the plastic sachets that are found on the street. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity to educate Ghanaian children on the danger of land pollution, it can also encourage them to dispose of their rubbish responsibly. It is also a small step towards keeping the streets clean and more attractive for tourists, as well as preventing the spread of disease.
During recent travels around Ghana, from the Central Region to the Volta and the Northern Region, I have been pleased by the occasional sight of rubbish skips and ‘Keep Ghana clean,’ writing on many products. I hope this is a small step towards encouraging Ghanaians to dispose waste in a way which is better for the environment.
Despite the sometimes stifling heat, the stench of disregarded waste and the constant attention from taxi drivers asking where you are going I love life in Ghana and there’s little I would change. I enjoy the daily friendly banter when shopping in the markets, the spicy food and the immense hospitality of Ghanaians, who are always willing to help their ‘white sister.’ I would only ask that one day I can walk around Makola Market without being surrounded by mountains of plastic bags and containers.