Women need to be weary of self-styled pastors

Article: Salome Donkor
Recent reports of the spate of abuse of women by self-styled pastors and spiritualists amply demonstrate the extent to which frustration, anxiety and depression suffered by these women can drive them to do things that cannot be justified.
Some of these self-styled pastors and spiritualists, who take advantage of the ignorance and vulnerability of some of the female members of their congregation, subject them to all manner of degrading treatment and sometimes, life threatening acts in the name of “spiritual cleansing”.
This issue generated a strong argument among a group of public office staff, who expressed divided opinions.
While some sympathised with the women and tried to appreciate their vulnerability, others could not readily assign reasons to what may have driven them to allow these pastors and spiritualists to take advantage of their situations to take them through those exercises, and sexually abuse them in the process.
Whatever the case may be, it is true that certain conditions may compel some women to become victims of these pastors and spiritualists, although it may seem unjustifiable.
Although it may seem unjustifiable, most African societies detest childlessness in marriage, and married women who find themselves in this situation, are compelled to move heaven and earth to get a child. In most cases, these women fall prey to self-styled pastors and spiritualists who subject them to all kinds of inhuman and degrading treatment.
In other instances too, some old women are branded witches and are accused of being the cause of all evils in the family.In parts of Ghana, such suspected witches are confined to witches camps, while those who are dragged to churches are subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment to make them confess.
In parts of the country, women who go through prolonged labour are accused of infidelity and are subjected to all kinds of treatment to make them ‘confess their sins’. These are thought to be justified and the perpetrators see nothing wrong with it.
These, among other issues confronting women, prompted the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to issue a statement condemning the practice, which it described as disheartening.
In a release signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO),Mrs Adiza Ofori-Adu, the ministry cited the case of one Kojo Addai, a 30 year old pastor of God's True Church at Teshie, who allegedly washed the genital organs of some of the female members of his followers.
The ministry further stated that reports also alleged that Addai deceived his female followers to believe that the best way of protecting them against spiritual forces was to take them through some rituals, one of which was for him to wash their genital organs.
It cited another case involving one Odartey Lamptey, who was being investigated by the Adenta Police for allegedly fondling the private parts of two women who went to him to seek treatment.
In another instance, the Ministry, said a 40-year-old woman, Esther Ayeley, was alleged to have been whipped to death by Pastor Kwame Kusi of Warriors Zion Prayer Camp at Asante Kwaku, a village near Nsawam.
The release said Kusi was alleged to have testified during a deliverance service that the deceased and her two daughters were witches and with the help of some members of the congregation, stretched out the woman and caned her until she collapsed and died the following day.
The ministry strongly condemned those acts and called on the security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that those self-styled pastors and spiritualists were brought to book in line with the country's laws.
To reflect on the role of the continent’s females in the society and celebrate African women’s accomplishments vis-à-vis gender equality at all levels of African politics, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now transformed into the African Union (AU), designated July 31 as Pan-African Women’s Day in 1962 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Currently, the date continues to be remembered in the African continent as the situation of women remains bleak, despite the fact that gradually they are starting to reach a comfortable economic independence and decision-making positions.
The first world conference on the status of women was held in Mexico City to coincide with the 1975 International Women's Year, to remind the international community that discrimination against women continued to be a persistent problem in most parts of the world.
The conference led to the declaration of the United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985) proclaimed by the General Assembly which launched a new era in global efforts to promote the advancement of women by opening a world-wide dialogue on gender equality.
A process was set in motion to involve deliberation, negotiation, setting objectives, identifying obstacles and reviewing the progress made.
Despite these efforts, many women around the world continue to suffer discrimination and challenges posed by social attitudes and policies that continue to condone and perpetuate violence against women and girls.
The Declaration of the Elimination of Violence Against Women adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 defines violence against women as “any act of gender based violence that results in or likely to result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life”.
It includes sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, such as battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non spousal abuse and violence related exploitation.
Last year, Ghana launched the 3rd, 4th and 5th Combined Reports on the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Accra.
The ceremony provided a forum for the enumeration of measures taken over the years to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in the country.
The reports covered the period 1993 to 2003 and highlighted progress made over the decade in achieving gender equality, as well as challenges and efforts being made by the government towards the realisation of women’s empowerment, equality, equity and sustainable development.
State parties are enjoined under provisions of CEDAW to submit periodic reports to the committee on the elimination of discrimination against women and the three reports provided additional information on questions and issues raised in the report and offers a lot of issues for discussion.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008 established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevail in Africa with increasing efforts being made to address them.
A paper presented by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the NETRIGHT Convenor, during the organisation’s end-of-year event in Accra, indicated that an estimated three million girls a year are said to be at risk from the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and many of them are in Africa.
She indicated that within the Ghanaian context , stories published on women during the period featured a range of themes and more than half of all the stories were on women, politics and decision-making with a specific focus on the 2008 elections.
According to Dr Mensah-Kutin, other stories could be located within the general themes of violence against women, women's health, beauty and entertainment, women and the economy, as well as discriminatory practices against women.
Some studies have found strong association between low socio-economic status and violence against women. However, in some settings women with high autonomy may actually be at risk of violence.
Unless women are asked directly about violence, many will not disclose it. This is mainly due to the shame and fear of reprisals from the perpetrators.
Another statement issued by MOWAC urged the media to devote more attention to issues confronting women and children.
The release said, in addition to facing all forms of discrimination and abuses, women were raped and violently assaulted by their spouses and partners.
It also said, parents were increasingly shirking their responsibilities towards their children, resulting in streetism, child trafficking, child prostitution, teenage pregnancy and the use of narcotic drugs, as well as other social vices which threatened the well being and survival of children in the country.
As was referred to in the release, Ghana will,next year, take part in the Beijing+15 review meeting on the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action. The media was reminded of its critical role in the implementation process.
It behoves social workers, marriage counsellors and dedicated pastors committed to the work of God (not self-styled pastors and spiritualists) to help women in need to overcome their agony and tribulations. Women also need to refrain from seeking the services of these self-styled pastors and spiritualists, and pray to God, guided by the scriptures that “In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God” Philippians 4:6.