According to the Minister, the advice she offered during the 90th anniversary and speech and prize giving day for Krobo Girls Presbyterian Senior School, was based on genuine love and concern for girls who are like her daughters.

[contextly_sidebar id=”GXUUlnVq8orVw1KA3CRXRjm1r1jfbfcC”]Madam Djaba subsequently came under severe backlash from a cross-section of Ghanaians who said her comments were only giving an excuse for rapists, since there was no proof that one’s way of dressing entices rapists.

The Minister had argued that, although one’s dressing can be fashionable, they should be responsible for the choice they make.

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of a Social Protection Dialogue on the theme “Promoting Productive Inclusion for Sustainable Economic Growth” Madam Djaba said girls needed to know their dressing could provoke some men to rape or assault them sexually.

“Every right has a responsibility. If you have a right to speak, it doesn’t mean you should say just anything. After 18, you can marry, you can have sex; but you must protect yourselves from a pregnancy you do not want and from sexual diseases. So if I say you have a right to dress the way you want, then you must be aware that how you dress could provoke somebody else. You must make a choice in your best interest and as a parent, I have every right to advise my children. I am a Krobo, and I was talking to my own sisters and children.”

Media took my words out of context

Madam Djaba also accused journalists of taking her words out of context, and picking and choosing only bad news and neglecting the “real issues”.

“People must understand that, when we speak, the journalists will pick what they want from it. I will plead with the media to stop focusing on me and concentrate on the real issues. I know that bad news sells because all the other things I said at the programme were not reported because they were good and people like to talk about negative news.”

She however said she was happy with her comments as it had “opened up a discussion about ourselves as a people.”

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By:  Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Otiko justifies advice on ‘dressing to avoid rape’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

During her opening address as the Co-Chairperson at the 90th anniversary and Speech and prize giving day for Krobo Girls Presbyterian Senior School, Madam Djaba intimated that girls’ wearing short dresses could attract a rapist.

“In conclusion, I want to say to you, be bold, be confident, be respectful. If you wear a short dress, it’s fashionable but, know that it can attract somebody who would want to rape or defile you. You must be responsible for the choices you make,” she said.

Madam Djaba also had some words for teachers who sexually assaulted girls saying “…it is an abuse of their rights and you are their role model you must not be the one to abuse the rights of the young girls,” she stated.

But her correlation between rape and girls’ dressing rubbed some Ghanaians the wrong way with many taking to social media to express their displeasure with the Gender Minister with a number of them questioning her logic and others accusing her of victim blaming and shaming.

Some have called on the president to remove her from her position as her comments suggest women are responsible for preventing rape, which they consider a crime borne out of violence and power.

This is would not the first time the minister has provoked the ire of the public. Recently, her delay in condemning the violent sexual attack on a woman suspected in Kumasi also angered many.

Some also noted that Madam Djaba’s comments were backwards, irresponsible and reflected badly on the Akufo-Addo government.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghanaians fume as Otiko tells girls not to attract rapists with short skirts appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.