"Sexual Abuse is not a laughing matter"- FIDA Ghana Condemns Action of "Kissing-Priest"

The international Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) has in a press release condemned the action of the Anglican Priest seen kissing three female students of the St. Monica’s College of Education of the Asante-Mampong Diocese in the Ashanti Region.

In the press release signed by the President of FIDA-Ghana, Akua Brown-Eyeson, the Federation urged the public to take cases of sexual abuse against women witnessed in the society seriously.

It went on to state that “sexual harassment and abuse is not a laughing matter” and thus women and girls should be vigilant in society.

“For far too long, the issue of sexual harassment has been at best sidelined and at worst silenced in the church. It is now time to challenge cultures of entitlement and abuse of power by clerics which plague women and girls in religious settings. The reality though is that sexual harassment and abuse by clerics has been in the news for quite a while due to undue influence, duress, and fear of religious authority. Though religious authority is regarded highly in Ghana, it should not be used as a cloak to oppress and abuse women and girls who most often need the protection of these clerics.”

“The effect of sexual harassment in the academic and professional lives of women has in most situations denied women of their rightful places of merit and contributed to the huge gender gaps in education and the workplace, thus the need for the Affirmative Action Law.”

FIDA-Ghana went on to applaud the Anglican Church of Ghana for relieving the Reverend Father from his duties and providing counseling for the students.

“FIDA-Ghana applauds the Anglican Church of Ghana for taking this matter seriously by relieving Rev Father Larbi of his duties, providing counseling for the girls, and investigating this unfortunate incident. It is now time for women and girls who have been sexually harassed in churches to come out with their experiences in order to raise awareness of these despicable acts.”

The video which shows Rev. Fr Balthazar Larbi kissing three girls who were with him on stage during Church Service on Sunday, August 15,2021 has been on various social media platforms and on the platforms of media houses. Many people has condemned the act, with a few defending the act describing it as a "Holy kiss"

Below is a copy of the statement...