Homosexuality in Senior High Schools: Students' participation in curbing it

Homosexuality, which was not rampant in the past, has now come to stay in the country and basically in most second cycle institutions. Wikipedia defines it as a romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behaviour between members of the same sex or gender.

This topic for years has always engaged the attention of the public and created a deep heated debate in the world at large, Africa and Ghana as well.

Recently, Ghanaians woke up in late October to find out about one Dr. Sulley Ali Gabass, the medical practitioner, who works with the Efia Nkwanta Regional Hospital; accused of sodomising a 16-year-old senior high school student.

This news really caused a stir as most people called for the arrest of Dr Gabass, especially as he confessed to Joy News' Manasseh Azure about the act; well he was arrested indeed and proceeded to court for justice to be ministered.

His trial began November 25, 2014 in a circuit court in Accra which its shelter is managed by the Department of Social Welfare.

This goes to confirm the fact that people are extremely concerned about social issues - issues affecting them; mainly because it affects the cultural and religious beliefs of the people.

The brainwashing process of homosexuality mostly begins in our senior high schools and colleges particularly in the boarding schools, where many innocent individuals are either forced or willingly develop that desire of having sex with the same sex.

Reports have indicated that some major causes of homosexuality in our senior high schools are economic reasons, bullying, peer pressure, weak family systems, school father – school mother orientation among others.

Innocent students who do not get enough financial support from their families are forced to engage in this act. In a report by OMG's Ofori Mensah, a self confessed gay named Lexis explained how he was introduced into the act.

“I was introduced into this kind of thing by my class teacher. I went to Zari Secondary School. In form one during the second term; my class teacher became so close to me. I thought he was being nice. I used to go to his house. A time came when he spoke to me about it. I didn’t think much of it then. And then I needed help at a time so when I went to him, he said if I do it, he would help me. So that is how I got into it”.

Other people who are bullied in school always end up having sexual affection for and from senior students who give them much affection regardless of the person’s sex.

School fathers or mothers are to encourage and advise their school sons and daughters to learn, support them financially and with provisions and in some rare cases having a popular school father or mother saves you from being punished by other seniors. But unfortunately for some form one students, they are forced to be the sexual partners of their mothers or fathers as known in boarding schools.

Additionally, it is realized that parents who spend most of their time at work than with their children make them turn to other people who negatively indulge them.

The Government, Ministry of gender, children and social protection, Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Religious leaders, Traditional leaders and other private organizations have offered themselves to help abolish this practice in the country.

However, this direction and measures put in place by these bodies cannot be achieved if the students in boarding houses of single sex schools and mixed schools involved do not take up their full responsibilities of standing tall against pressures and temptation into going into the act.

Students are sent to school to grow into responsible adults who will be of benefit not only to their families and communities but the nation at large; they must resist all lustful desires of engaging in any sexual activities.

With discipline, and bracing themselves against the causes outlined above, they can help curb the spread of homosexuality that is still breeding in the boarding houses. They must be bold and also report to authorities any pressure from senior colleagues or a teacher who forcefully wants to engage them in any sexual molestation acts.

The situation, which can socially and emotionally damage the life of the students involved, must be discouraged in the various secondary schools. This can be effectively discouraged when the students take up their full responsibilities.