The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South, Felicia Adjei, has called on men to exercise self-control over their sexual urges, particularly when they encounter women whose attire they may find inappropriate.

Speaking in Parliament to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, she advised her male colleagues to remain cautious and respectful in such situations.

She expressed her sorrow while commemorating the day, noting that it serves as a painful reminder of the challenges young girls, especially head porters, popularly known as 'kayayei', face, including rape and sexual violence.

Addressing Parliament, she highlighted instances where house helps living with relatives are sexually harassed by the husbands of these women.

The lawmaker also condemned the tendency of some family members to defend the perpetrators and blame the victims when such cases are reported.

"Mr. Speaker, every time we celebrate International Women’s Day, I feel deeply saddened. We often overlook the struggles of women working on the streets, particularly kayayei who are raped daily. There are also young girls who live with relatives and experience rape or sexual harassment but are unable to speak out because the perpetrator is their father or uncle.

"Mr. Speaker, we live in a country where we constantly discuss women’s rights, yet women are the ones who suffer the most whenever anything happens," she said.

She continued, "Mr. Speaker, I am especially sad today because I received distressing news this morning. There is a young lady living with a relative, and every day, the husband tries to rape her. Whenever she attempts to report it or confide in her sister, another relative steps in and blames her, saying, ‘You are ruining their marriage because of the way you behave or the kind of clothes you wear. That is why my husband is interested in you.’”

Addressing men, particularly those in Parliament, she urged them to "zip up" when they come across women dressed in ways they might consider inappropriate.

She emphasised that it is not the fault of these women for choosing their style of dress and urged men to simply ignore such situations.

"Yes, Mr. Speaker, I want to address the men. When you see a young woman dressed in a way you consider inappropriate perhaps wearing a transparent outfit or walking in a way that makes her body move, please understand that this is simply how she chooses to dress. It is not her fault. So, if you are a man and you find yourself in such a situation, please zip up," the Kintampo South MP said.

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