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

doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01430-3

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

University of Leeds
University of Ghana
Centre for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR)
Pentecost University College
University of Saskatchewan
Örebro University
School of Medicine and Public Health
The Methodist Church Ghana
Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly Polyclinic

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 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 language	English
Pages (from-to)	3028-3054
Number of pages	27
Journal	Journal of Religion and Health
Volume	61
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01430-3
Publication status	Published - Aug 2022
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

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

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10.1007/s10943-021-01430-3

Cite this

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

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.",

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doi = "10.1007/s10943-021-01430-3",

language = "English",

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AU - Davies, Priscilla Ayebea

AU - Acharibasam, Jeremiah Wezenamo

AU - Owiredua, Christiana

AU - Atorkey, Prince

AU - Quarshie, Daniel Annang

AU - Quarshie, Sandra Naa Shasha

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AB - 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.

KW - Clergy

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KW - Ghana

KW - Neo-prophetic ministry

KW - Sexual abuse

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

Abstract

Keywords

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