The University of Ghana is set to establish a Sexual Harassment Offender Register under its newly revised Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy, marking one of the University’s strongest measures yet to improve accountability and deter sexual misconduct on campus.
The policy provides that the University may maintain a register containing the names and details of persons found responsible for sexual harassment or sexual misconduct after the University’s disciplinary processes have been concluded. The register may also include the sanctions imposed and other relevant case information. Access to the register will be strictly controlled and subject to legal and institutional safeguards.
The proposed register forms part of a broader accountability framework aimed at strengthening the University’s response to sexual harassment while ensuring fairness and due process for all parties.
Under the policy, complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated by an Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, which will be responsible for receiving complaints, conducting investigations, hearing cases, recommending sanctions, maintaining records, monitoring compliance, and submitting periodic reports to the Vice-Chancellor and the University Council.
The University also reserves the right to publish the outcomes of sexual harassment cases where appropriate. Such publication may take the form of anonymised summaries or, in serious cases, identified outcomes, provided this is consistent with fairness and legal requirements. The policy further states that where a respondent is exonerated, the University may publish that outcome to restore the person’s reputation.
According to the policy, the offender register is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing disciplinary measures. Persons found responsible for violations may face sanctions ranging from formal warnings and mandatory counselling to suspension, dismissal, expulsion, revocation of degrees or honours, and referral to law enforcement agencies where criminal offences are suspected.
Beyond disciplinary action, the revised policy places significant emphasis on prevention. The University will introduce mandatory sexual harassment education and training for students, staff and faculty members. It also plans to integrate education on sexual harassment into orientation programmes for newly admitted students, newly recruited staff, visiting scholars and affiliates.
The policy requires the University to widely disseminate the document through its website, orientation programmes, printed and electronic copies, and prominent display across campuses to ensure that members of the University community understand their rights, responsibilities and reporting procedures.
The revised policy adopts a broad definition of sexual harassment, recognising that misconduct may occur in physical, verbal, non-verbal, written, digital, psychological and institutional forms. It also covers technology-facilitated sexual misconduct, including cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, sexually explicit deepfakes and other forms of online abuse.
University authorities say the policy is designed to create a safer learning and working environment by combining prevention, education, victim support, fair investigation procedures and stronger institutional accountability. It affirms the University’s commitment to ensuring that every member of the University community can study, work and interact in an environment free from intimidation, exploitation and abuse.
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