Managing Partner of Hawkhurst & Dua Associates, Maataa Opare Esq., has urged women to speak up against workplace harassment and bullying, stressing that no employee should be made to feel unsafe at work.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual National Summit by the Ghana Chapter of the Young African Women Congress Network, Lawyer Maataa Opare said, many women continue to face challenges such as sexual harassment, verbal abuse, bullying and unhealthy competition in the workplace.
According to her, inappropriate comments, unwanted advances and other forms of harassment should never be accepted because employees go to work to deliver results and not to be subjected to abuse.
She advised women facing such situations to keep detailed records of incidents, including dates and descriptions of what occurred. She said proper documentation could help victims seek redress through their organizations’ human resource departments or through legal channels where necessary.
Maataa Opare noted that many organizations may attempt to quietly handle complaints to protect their image, but stressed that victims should not remain silent. She encouraged affected employees to seek support from trusted professionals, including lawyers, to ensure their concerns are properly addressed.
Beyond harassment, she also spoke about workplace bullying, saying some employees target hardworking colleagues whom they see as a threat to their own career progress.
She encouraged women to remain focused on their goals and not allow negative attitudes from colleagues to discourage them from pursuing success.
The legal practitioner further advised employees who find themselves in unhealthy work environments to carefully plan their next steps, including upgrading their skills and preparing for new opportunities if necessary.
She concluded by reminding participants that workplaces should be safe and respectful environments where everyone can thrive without fear of harassment, intimidation or discrimination.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
