Rev. Cassandra Ackah, a psychosocial counsellor, has urged parents to cultivate open and honest conversations with their children in the wake of the recent controversy at Agona Swedru Senior High School (SHS) in the Central Region.
Speaking in an interview on Bullet TV’s Morning Target, Rev. Ackah emphasised that such discussions are essential in helping young people process sensitive issues.
“It means the child has seen something or been taught something… so you need to have an open conversation with them and be honest with them,” she said.
Her call comes after the school suspended about 25 final-year students earlier this month following a violent confrontation reportedly triggered by a same-sex proposal among students.
A male student allegedly showed romantic interest in another, but the other student rejected the proposal, according to school officials. The student who turned down the proposition, however, apparently spoke with some of his peers about it, and they suggested that he pretend to have changed his mind and show interest instead.
The suitor was allegedly ambushed and attacked by a group of students who were thought to be friends of the person who turned down the proposal after the two agreed to meet.
The beaten suitor retaliated by telling his roommates, which sparked a retaliatory assault.
As the altercation swiftly got out of hand, several students joined in, and the school was forced to step in.
Rev. Ackah noted that incidents of this nature highlight the importance of communication between parents and children on issues of sexuality, relationships, and peer pressure.
