Adventist Church in Ghana responds to viral sexual assault video :: Adventist News Network

Dec 22, 2017
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Accra, Ghana
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Solace Asafo, communication director, Ghana Union Conference

According to police reports, on December 18, more than five teenage boys tied up a young girl, raped her and recorded it for circulation on social media. The video went viral and caught the attention of the police who subsequently arrested three of the perpetuators. According to the Adventist Church in Ghana, incidence of sexual violence is high in the country, but this is the first time a gang rape has been circulated on social media. This act has been widely condemned in the country

In a statement to the press, the Adventist Church in Ghana has condemned the gang rape of a teenage girl by four teen boys in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

In the statement, they say:

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church denounces the gang rape of a teenage girl by more than five boys at Bantama in the Ashanti region. As a Church, we add our voice to all well-meaning citizens to call for concerted action and education to ensure that such an act does not happen again.

What we find even more disturbing is the fact that these young men videotaped their criminal act and circulated it on social media. Thus, apart from the physical and emotional violence perpetrated on this young girl, she will further live with the realization that her humiliation was circulated globally. This must end.

The Adventist Church sympathizes with the victim and calls for support for the girl and her family.

The Adventist Church through its yearly abuse prevention program “End It Now” educates its members on the effects of sexual violence and calls on them to fight to end abuse against women and children in all its forms and manifestations.

We invite other communities of faith to join in the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls now.”

Earlier in October 2017, members of the Women Ministries marched to raise awareness on ending violence against girls and women.

The Women Ministries Department of the Northern Ghana Union Conference visited the victim and made some donations towards her medical upkeep.