The Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD-UCC), has held a workshop for stakeholders of the University on the theme, “Sexual Harassment Stakeholders’ Awareness Creation and Reporting Structures”.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, shed light on University Management’s commitment to ensure better eradication of sexual harassment in the University community.  He said, “As Management, we acknowledge the need to create a non-threatening academic environment for effective teaching and learning. Based on this, the Management of the University has put in place measures to control and eradicate all sorts of discriminatory and sexual harassment experiences in the University.”

He indicated that as part of efforts to create a conducive and non-threatening academic environment, the University established CEGRAD in 2013. The Sexual Harassment Committee was also formed, and a Sexual Harassment Policy was formulated to further strengthen the University’s non-discriminatory values on campus. He noted that the Sexual Harassment Policy charges the Sexual Harassment Committee to make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor for further action on investigated cases.

Prof. Boampong gave the assurance that any sexual harassment case put before University Management would be prudently dealt with. “I want to assure you once again of Management's support for CEGRAD’s advocacy, research, and work. Be assured that any individual regardless of status, that harasses another person will face the full consequences of the law,” he said. He promised that the University would continue to support CEGRAD and the Sexual Harassment Committee, to ensure that no one is victimized for reporting sexual harassment cases.

The Director of CEGRAD-UCC, Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro, indicated that the workshop created an opportunity to discuss the issue of sexual harassment on campus and the strategies the University is adopting to address the issues. 

The Sexual Harassment Committee Chairperson, Mr. Swanzy Essien (Esq), addressed the issue of sexual harassment as an enemy to progress, human development, and a source of discomfort, and admonished all stakeholders to play their roles in making the University of Cape Coast sexual harassment-free.                                                                                                             

Present at the workshop was the Director of University Health Services, Dr. Evans Ekenam, Director of Guidance and Counseling Centre, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Nkyi, Superintendent Appiah Sekyi, UCC Police Unit, Members of the UCC Sexual Harassment Committee, Representatives from Staff Associations, Hall Wardens, and Student Leaders from GRASAG and SRC.