The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South, Felicia Adjei has urged young girls to speak out when they are sexually harassed.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, during the celebration of International Women’s Day, she expressed sadness that vulnerable women, such as head porters commonly known as “Kayayei,” are often excluded from these discussions.
Felicia Adjei highlighted the disturbing reality that many young women face sexual harassment or even rape daily, both from strangers and family members. However, they often find it difficult to speak up due to the fear of bringing shame to their families.
“Anytime we celebrate International Women’s Day, I become very sad because we leave the women selling out there, the Kayayei that are raped everyday. We have girls that live with their relatives and they get raped, they can’t say anything because it’s either they are their father or their uncle. We live in a country that talks about women but we are those that suffer alot,” she said.
She also pointed out that when these incidents are confronted, the perpetrators sometimes blame the victims, claiming they were attracted to them due to their clothing. She urged men to refrain from such behavior and advised them to avoid young women who dress in ways they find overly attractive, for their own good.
She encouraged all young women experiencing sexual harassment to speak up and seek support in finding a solution.
By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
