SPOTLIGHTING RAPE CULTURE IN GHANA THROUGH THE LENS OF DRAMA

Abstract

This paper projects the deep-rooted veracity of rape culture in Ghana. Rape barely comes up in mainstream discourse in Ghana and there are no significant efforts to address this pervasive menace. Reported rape cases are often swept under the carpet and hardly sustained to logical conclusions. Victims are either blamed or stigmatised if they speak up and often, preventive overtures on rape are limited to cautioning girls to be careful not to get raped. In a bid to openly engage in conversation and examine the entrenched reality of rape culture in Ghana, we directed Danso Sakyi’s play, You Raped Me, which highlights rape culture in Ghana. The play presents a controversial rape case in which the audience forms the jury to pronounce judgement after the accuser and accused are heard. Selected members of the audience were engaged in open forum discussion on why the culprit should be convicted or reasons to declare the victim’s story incredible. With the play as a stimulus, the pertinent subject of rape was discussed offering an appreciable depth of insight into society’s views on rape culture in Ghana. This paper illuminates the contents of the play in relation to rape culture and discusses the views of the respondents. The findings showed that rape culture is really entrenched in Ghana and people will believe or disprove one’s claim of rape based on engrained biases of who raped, who got raped and the circumstances of the rape.