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Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

ISSN Online: 2576-0548 Downloads: 1273512 Total View: 8504537
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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.10.031

Knowledge About Rape Among Students in a Public University in Ghana

Samuel Osei Attakora

Head of Law Department, Faculty of Law, Governance and International Relations, Kings University College (KUC), Accra GP 18835, Ghana.

*Corresponding author: Samuel Osei Attakora

Published: November 14,2025

Abstract

The study assessed the level of university students’ knowledge about rape in Ghana.  Knowledge about rape was measured by using ten multiple-choice questions based on the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29). The questions were vetted and approved by criminal law lecturers at Kings University College. Each question had two responses and a third response, which provided the student the opportunity to respond “I don’t know”. Of major interest in this study was how many students would select the “I don’t know” response to each question. This approach provided the opportunity to students to admit not knowing the answer. “I don’t know” responses were counted as incorrect answers for test scoring purposes. Each question was valued at 10 points, resulting in a total of 100 possible points for all 10 (ten) questions. On the whole, the level of knowledge the respondents had about rape was quite low. There were no differences in the knowledge about rape among the respondents, either based on gender or age. Academics stand to benefit from the outcomes of this research with respect to creating the academic atmosphere for further and more so increasing awareness of this phenomenon in Ghana. Also, managers of the University can benefit from this study to influence the approach used in sensitizing students on matters evolving around rape and its attendant legal consequences. Finally, policymakers can base on this study to draw targeted plans towards the education and sensitization of matters related to rape in public universities.

Keywords

Rape; Criminal Act 1960 (Act 29); Consent; Marital Rape; Ghana

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How to cite this paper

Knowledge About Rape Among Students in a Public University in Ghana

How to cite this paper: Samuel Osei Attakora. (2025) Knowledge About Rape Among Students in a Public University in Ghana. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science9(10), 2023-2036.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.10.031