1,800 criminal act against women and children

A total of 1,831 criminal acts were perpetuated against women and children during the first half of this year, Women and Juvenile Unit of the Police Service said on Monday.

Out of the figure, 679 were spousal assault, 262, defilement and 376 sexual assaults. Superintendent Esther Appiah, Commanding Officer of the unit made this known at the opening of a two-day workshop for training officers, who handle victims of domestic violence in Accra.

About 20 participants drawn from the Southern sector of the Police Administration are taking part in the programme. Superintendent Appiah said that domestic violence was on the increase and against this backdrop the workshop would help streamline the activities of officers handling such cases in their districts, divisions and regions.

She said: " The training will enable us deliver better services to our communities, especially to complainants and victims, who come to us at our various Police stations with their complaints."

The WAJU boss said more sensitisation programmes aimed at building capacity and ability of officers handling domestic violence cases throughout the country would be organised before the end of the year.

Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, outgoing Inspector General of Police, whose speech was read on his behalf, said domestic violence was becoming a cancer in the society and called for more efforts to eradicate it.

"The Ghana Police Service and WAJU have declared their preparedness to lead the fight against it and we are ready to pull other institutions along through fruitful interactions such as this workshop in order to provide the basis for a more informed policy."

Mr Owusu-Poku called on the officers to develop an effective work ethics especially in handling cases of domestic violence, adding:" The reputation of the Police depends greatly on how efficiently and considerately the officer carries out his or her interviews in the course of investigations into any reported offence.

He called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other related bodies to work jointly to help eliminate all forms of domestic violence from the society. Mr Owusu-Poku, urged the trainers not only to update their skills but impart their knowledge to their colleagues to improve their services as well.

He commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the sponsorship and National Population Council for co-ordinating the workshop. Ms Mercy Osei Konadu, Programme Officer of UNFPA, expressed concern about the increasing rate of domestic violence and said all must work hard to check it.

Mrs Joana Forson of the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre, who chaired the function, said gender violence was becoming part of everyday life and, therefore, the trend must be halted. She mentioned human trafficking as one such violation that must be dealt with.