“We mix child protection with cultural beliefs” – Plan International Ghana

Plan International Ghana has raised concern over the confusion between cultural practices and child protection, noting that such conflation could endanger children and undermine efforts to safeguard their rights and well-being.

This observation was made by Mr. Sulemana Gbana, Manager of the Northern Programme Influencing and Impact Area (NPIIA) of Plan International Ghana, during a two-day safeguarding and child protection training held in Wa on August 4 and 5, 2025.

The training was organized under the She Leads Project, a joint initiative between Plan International Ghana and Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD Ghana), aimed at empowering girls and young women to take up leadership roles and participate in decision-making spaces.

Participants included youth advocates, community champions of change, and members of the She Leads social movement, among others.

According to Mr. Gbana, while child protection is of great importance to families, communities, and development actors, traditional norms and long-held cultural practices often cloud public understanding of what constitutes abuse.

“We mix child abuse with our cultural beliefs and call it discipline. But when exposed to proper training, we begin to see the deep-rooted issues.

"Sometimes we find it difficult to even appreciate whether what we do really defines as child protection or abuse cases," he explained.

He emphasized that the training was designed not only to build capacity but also to ensure that stakeholders across the board possess the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their roles while protecting themselves and the children they serve.

Mr. Gbana added that adolescent girls, in particular, need safe spaces to thrive and push for social change, something that the She Leads project is committed to.

Ms. Joyce Obenewaa Darko, the She Leads Project Manager at Plan International Ghana, emphasized the importance of the training in refreshing minds and strengthening stakeholders' commitment to gender-transformative change.

"This training is very important for the sustainability of the gains of the She Leads project," she said.

She called for zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, and gender-based violence, particularly in school environments.

“We know serving justice alone to perpetrators does not relieve the pain of the victim, but it gives the assurance that our systems are working and victims feel supported.

"We should not condone it or cover it up... Reporting someone for the person to be punished ensures that the person doesn't go on abusing other people around," she stated.

Felicia Bagania, President of the She Leads Social Movement, described the training as timely and deeply impactful, stressing its relevance to the network’s broader advocacy agenda.

"The valuable lessons we have drawn from this training is something we have to let it be a guide that will help us execute our mandate as girls and young women in leadership," she noted.

She also praised the collaborative nature of the event, saying it helped strengthen the bonds between different stakeholders working under the She Leads umbrella.

"We are looking at building that solid ground with them, moving along with them in this journey, knowing very well that even if the She Leads project ends, the collaboration and partnership is there," she said.

The She Leads Project aims to empower girls and young women to take up leadership roles and participate in decision-making by challenging gender norms and promoting protective systems in formal and informal settings.