Examining Religious Leaders’ Engagement in Child Protection in Dzemeni, Volta Region, Ghana
Ebenezer Tetteh Kpalam 
, Emmanuel Nyarko-Tetteh & Eva Ahiataku
Issue: Vol.5 No.14 Issue Article 9 pp.2569-2581
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245149 | Published online 28th November, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
It is reported that ninety-four percent of children experience some form of abuse in Ghana. Where child abuse exists, an appropriate response is child protection. Dzemeni, a fishing community in the Volta Region of Ghana is noted to have a history of high prevalence of child abuse, trafficking, child labour, and exploitation. This study aims to explore the perspectives of religious leaders on child abuse and analyse efforts by religious leaders, including inter-religious engagements for child protection in Dzemeni. Using a qualitative approach, data was collected from 15 religious leaders, comprising eight clergy, four traditional leaders and three Muslim leaders. The results showed that, although religious leaders understood the concept of child protection and undertook measures such as education of the public and provision of psychosocial support for abused children, there were no inter-religious efforts towards child protection in the community. The paper posits that inter-religious engagements for child protection could contribute significantly to the prevention of child abuse in Dzemeni.
Keywords: Child Abuse, Child Protection, Faith Community, Fishing Community, Inter-Religious Engagement
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Ebenezer Tetteh Kpalam is a Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mission, at Pentecost University. His research interest includes child theology, child welfare and protection, pastoral psychology and African Christianity.
Emmanuel Nyarko-Tetteh is a Child Protection Practitioner and Child Advocate. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Bielefeld University in Germany. His research interest focuses on violence against children and its effect on socio-emotional development.
Eva Ahiataku is a Nurse Practitioner and a Lecturer at the Department of Nursing, at Pentecost University. Her research interests include children and adolescents’ mental health, and nursing care presence. She also seeks pathways of collaboration between nurses and religious leaders in promoting mental health.
Kpalam, Ebenezer Tetteh, Emmanuel Nyarko-Tetteh & Eva Ahiataku. “Examining Religious Leaders’ Engagement in Child Protection in Dzemeni, Volta Region, Ghana,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.14 (2024):2569-2581. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245149
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
