“There Are Girls in Schools Who Position Themselves to Sexually Exploit Teachers for Money” – Stephen Desu Alleges

A teacher at Ekumpoano Catholic Basic School, Stephen Desu, has called attention to the financial pressures some female students face, arguing that their vulnerability must be considered in discussions about sexual exploitation in schools.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, October 20, during a discussion on allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi (SHTS), Desu said some relationships between teachers and students involved financial exchanges for sex.

“There are girls in schools who position themselves to sexually exploit teachers for their money whilst teachers get sex from them in a transactional relationship,” he said.

He linked the situation to concerns over inadequate food supplies in schools, claiming that some teachers had given female students money in exchange for sex when the students struggled to meet their needs.

“Especially when this food issue came up in our schools, where they're not getting food. Some teachers stepped up, and they were giving the girls money, and they were exchanging sex for the money they were giving them,” he said.

Desu also questioned whether parents could be certain their daughters were coping in school if they did not provide them with enough financial support.

“If you leave your girl child in school and you don't support her with money and she's surviving, you as a parent, what makes you think that that child is surviving just because she's just there?” he asked.

Desu acknowledged that misconduct could occur within the teaching profession despite its standing in society, noting that the large number of teachers meant some could engage in predatory behaviour.

“Teaching is the noblest profession. I mean, all professions can boast, but the teacher taught them all. So we position ourselves as the noble profession. Unfortunately, if you have more than 300,000 persons in your classroom as teachers, you may get such persons as predators,” he said.

His comments come amid heightened public scrutiny of allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi SHTS. The school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, has been interdicted by the Ghana Education Service and arrested by police as investigations continue.

However, financial hardship or a student’s alleged involvement in a transactional relationship does not remove a teacher’s responsibility to uphold professional boundaries. Given the power imbalance between teachers and students, allegations of sexual exploitation must be investigated carefully, with the safety and welfare of students prioritised.