Clergy-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse in Ghana: A Media Content Analysis of Survivors, Offenders, and Offence Characteristics

Emmanuel Nii Boye Quarshie, Priscilla Ayebea Davies, Jeremiah Wezenamo Acharibasam, Christiana Owiredua, Prince Atorkey, Daniel Annang Quarshie, Sandra Naa Shasha Quarshie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

While there are no official data and published studies on clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA) from Ghana, local media reports continue to show worrying trends of the phenomenon. We drew on 73 media reports from January 2000 to March 2019, to describe the offence characteristics and profiles of the perpetrators and survivors of CPSA in Ghana. The findings showed females aged 10–19 as predominant survivors. The perpetrators were all males found guilty of lone rape, incest, defilement, indecent assault, sodomy, attempted rape, or gang rape. A preventive measure could involve streamlining the recruitment, training, and leadership structures of the church.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3028-3054
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Religion and Health
Volume61
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022

Keywords

  • Clergy
  • Clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse
  • Ghana
  • Neo-prophetic ministry
  • Sexual abuse

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