Clergy‑Perpetrated Sexual Abuse in Ghana: A Media Content Analysis of Survivors, Ofenders, and Ofence Characteristics

Abstract

While there are no ofcial data and published studies on clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA) from Ghana, local media reports continue to show worrying trends of the phenomenon. We drew on 73 media reports from January 2000 to March 2019, to describe the ofence characteristics and profles of the perpetrators and survi vors of CPSA in Ghana. The fndings showed females aged 10–19 as predominant survivors. The perpetrators were all males found guilty of lone rape, incest, defle ment, indecent assault, sodomy, attempted rape, or gang rape. A preventive measure could involve streamlining the recruitment, training, and leadership structures of the church.