Kobby Kyei Raises Alarm Over Sexual Abuse And Emotional Neglect Of Boys

Ghanaian blogger and humanitarian Kobby Kyei has called for greater attention to the emotional, psychological and sexual wellbeing of boys, warning that neglect during childhood could have consequences for the kind of men they become.

According to him, his advocacy campaign, Boys Lives Matter, was created after observing that boys were often expected to be strong and independent without being given adequate space to discuss their struggles.

“We are raising a generation of heartless men,” he said, arguing that boys need to be taught how to understand and express their emotions rather than being repeatedly told that men should not show vulnerability.

Speaking on the Big Convo segment of the Culture Daily Morning Show on 3Music TV and Pluzz 89.9 FM, Kobby Kyei said many boys grow up without the same level of intentional guidance given to girls on issues such as personal hygiene, emotional expression and relationships.

 He said sexual abuse was among the issues that had emerged repeatedly from people who contacted him after he began the campaign.

He recounted receiving a message from a man who alleged that he had been sexually abused by a female teacher as a child. Kobby Kyei said the man told him he later encountered the same teacher when he entered the University of Ghana and eventually left his course because of the trauma associated with the earlier experience.

He said other messages he receives relate to pornography addiction, masturbation, difficulties expressing affection in marriage and other forms of emotional distress.

Kobby Kyei said the experiences showed the need for parents, schools, churches and other institutions to create safe spaces where boys can speak about abuse and emotional difficulties.

“Men should also make it safe for fellow men to speak to them,” he said.

The concern comes against a wider child protection challenge in Ghana. UNICEF says both boys and girls continue to experience physical, emotional and verbal abuse at home, in schools and communities. Its data also show that 94% of children aged one to 14 experienced physical punishment or psychological aggression from caregivers in 2018.

A UNICEF assessment of adolescents in Ghana also found that boys reported physical violence more often than girls in some settings, while both sexes experienced violence. The report recorded physical or sexual violence among adolescents aged 15 to 19 and highlighted differences between domestic and non-domestic environments

Kobby Kyei said his campaign is not intended to compete with efforts to empower girls. He argued instead that raising boys and girls should be treated as part of the same social responsibility because they will eventually live, work and build families together.

As part of Boys Lives Matter, he said he has visited schools to engage boys directly. He cited an engagement involving about 400 boys in Tema where speakers encouraged the students to hug them before leaving.

According to Kobby Kyei, many of the boys became emotional, with some crying and telling the organisers that it was the first time they had experienced that kind of physical affection.

The initiative has also received support from organisations working with young people. In June 2026, United Way Ghana partnered with him on its Day of Caring programme, using the Boys Lives Matter initiative to engage boys in a community in the Greater Accra Region.

Kobby Kyei said the ultimate objective is to encourage more intentional parenting and mentorship so that boys grow into men who can communicate, show empathy and take responsibility.

He also urged men to create environments where other men can discuss their problems without fear of ridicule.

The campaign, he said, is therefore not only about boys but also about the kind of adults Ghana wants to produce.