Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, the Vice Chancellor of the University for Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), has called on the institution to work towards creating a campus free from sexual harassment.
He said sexual harassment was a widespread issue with serious consequences, including creating a hostile work and learning environment, lowering morale, and exposing the university to legal and financial risks.
The Vice Chancellor said sexual harassment violated human dignity and caused significant harm to victims.
Professor Asare-Bediako made the call during a launch and awareness creation on sexual harassment and the development of anti-harassment initiatives at the University.
The workshop, organised by UENR with support from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, aimed at educating staff and students on how to recognize and respond to harassment effectively by becoming proactive bystanders and advocates of a harassment-free environment at the campus.
Prof. Asare-Bediako explained that many people at the university may not understand what constituted harassment or how to address it, saying lack of awareness allowed unacceptable behavior to persist unchecked.
He emphasised the importance of confronting harassment through a collaborative effort to create a campus where everyone felt safe, respected and empowered to succeed.
Addressing the issue of harassment, Prof. TheresahPatrineEnnin, Associate Professor in the Department of English and former Coordinator at the Centre for Gender Advocacy and Documentation at the University of Cape Coast, stressed the need for the university implementing an anti-harassment policy.
She suggested establishing a harassment committee to oversee the policy’s enforcement and a counseling unit to support individuals affected by harassment.
Additionally, she highlighted the need to equip the University’s health facility to address harassment issues effectively and to provide training for the campus police to handle and respond to incidents of harassment.
Prof. Yaw Ofosu-Kusi, Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Sciences at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, UENR, mentioned a study published in 2023 by Athanasiades and others where 2,134 students, predominantly females, were examined through self-reported online questionnaires.
He said, the research revealed most common forms of harassment experienced by the women included offensive comments, jokes, stories, inappropriate remarks about one’s body and appearance, as well as lewd staring, gestures, and exposure of body parts causing embarrassment.
Dr. Mrs. Abena O. Adjapong, a Lecturer and Project Lead at UENR said the initiative served as a reminder for all to remain vigilant, support those who speak out and confront behaviors and attitudes that contributed to harassment.
She said merely raising awareness was insufficient, however individuals must commit actions to address the issue.
