The Lessons After The Ugandan Child Abuse Case 



For some-time now, we have as a nation, plunged ourselves into and devoted time to discuss a matter that happened in Uganda. This matter relates to a house help who abused a child in an inhuman manner to the extent that it attracted global concern. 

The recording of the abuse went viral on social media. Some of us could not watch the video the second time while others mustered the courage before watching it. 

The gravity of the abuse on the child gave reason for the media to go on political vacation to clothe themselves with social apparel in discussing the issue. Serial callers and the public were held bound to share their thoughts on the matter. 

Parents on the other hand paused in their daily busy schedules to reflect on how best to protect their children whiles leaving them in the hands of house helps, drivers and other helpers. As the world waited patiently to hear the decision of the Ugandan court concerning the nanny, we woke up in the morning of 15th December 2014 to hear that the judicial system had sentenced the house- help to four years in prison. This may sound fair and just because justice delayed is justice denied. 

Reports from Uganda disclose that it is one of the cases that has been most speedily dealt with. Same cannot be said of Ghana, although the 1992 Constitution states that, the Children’s Act 560 and the Juvenile Justice Act says the best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning the child. Though the matter did not happened in Ghana, the lessons it provides is as close as anything you can think of. As simply put by a judge “distant lands are now our neighbors”. 

One major lesson it provides is to what extent have we given meaning to the Welfare Principle of the Children’s Act 560 which provides in section 2 (1) that “the best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning a child”. (2) “That the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration by any court, person, institution or other body in any matter concerned with a child”? These welfare principles exist in value chain and there is no short cut in achieving it, meaning, the conscience of the State must be apt to
prevent and respond quickly to the needs and rights of children. 

Children in Ghana are no longer social subjects to toy with, but are legal objects that we are commissioned to keep; therefore their care and protection must be in accordance with law and order. 

The Constitution provides that natural environment for a child is with the family. It stands to reason that primary actors are parents; therefore their conduct must be in the best interest of children. 

Where parents will need assistance, it is expected of them to do due diligence;

1. In the recruitment of house helps: House helps are very crucial once a decision has been made by the family to engage one. This means that the house help is coming in to provide services to your child or children that due to some engagement, you cannot provide for them. This person so-called at a point becomes a mother to the children. It has been said that children spend better times with house helps than their biological parents. Assigning such roles to house helps cannot be done any how but it must follow systems. Therefore, primary actors must devote their resources to engage professionals to provide such services to our children.

2. It is believed that once a house help is working as a professional, we must pay their contributions such as SSNIT and even register them on the National Health Insurance Scheme. Doing this means we secure their future for them.

3. One major issue of concern is the honor, respect and dignity of house helps. Most house helps who are taking care of our children are treated as second class citizens in our homes. We do not regard them to the extent that we sometimes humiliate them in front of our children. We must honor and respect the dignity of house helps in order for them to give the same treatment to our children. Parents must make it a priority to spend time with their children in order to address their difficulties. No child deserves such cruel act therefore we have to take steps to prevent cruelty from happening to our children.



Written By:  Bright Appiah, Executive Director, Child Rights International