Enforcing lockdown orders not avenue to assault women – Group to Security Agencies

The African Center for Women in Politics (ACWP) has expressed worry over allegations of assault on innocent women by members of Ghana’s security forces tasked to enforce the lockdown orders as part of measures to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

“The attention of the African Center for Women in Politics (ACWP) has been drawn to several worrying videos portraying some Ghanaian security agencies subjecting women to brutalities in their efforts to enforce the lockdown order by the President.” – The Executive Director of ACWP, Alimatu Issahak said in a statement sighted by Awake News.

Recounting what is seen in the videos; Ms. Issahak said; “In most of the videos seen are market women who are part of the exempt categories of businesses. A market woman carrying a head pan containing tomatoes for sale at the CMB Market at Accra Central was lashed at her back and was seen painfully crying in the video while lamenting her ordeal.”

“Another video was seen where a panicking young girl was seen telling a security officer at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle that she belongs to the exempt category and that she was returning home after going to sell airtime. In that same video, a woman seen narrating to a security personnel that she was returning from supplying provision to customers was asked to step aside for flouting the lockdown order.” – she added

Ms. Issahak stated that “The security agencies are reminded that the majority of the 25% of women who are illiterate according to World Bank in 2020, are market women. As a result, instead of intimidating or brutalizing them, they should engage in providing some form of information on the lockdown to these women.”

Read the full statement:

31st March 2020

For Immediate Release

ENFORCING LOCKDOWN ORDER BY GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE AN AVENUE FOR SECURITY AGENCIES TO EXERCISE THEIR MUSCLES ON INNOCENT WOMEN – AFRICAN CENTER FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS (ACWP).

The attention of the African Center for Women in Politics (ACWP) has been drawn to several worrying videos portraying some Ghanaian security agencies subjecting women to brutalities in their efforts to enforce the lockdown order by the President.

In most of the videos seen are market women who are part of the exempt categories of businesses. A market woman carrying a head pan containing tomatoes for sale at the CMB Market at Accra Central was lashed at her back and was seen painfully crying in the video while lamenting her ordeal.

Another video was seen where a panicking young girl was seen telling a security officer at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle that she belongs to the exempt category and that she was returning home after going to sell airtime. In that same video, a woman seen narrating to a security personnel that she was returning from supplying provision to customers was asked to step aside for flouting the lockdown order.

While it is very important to note that we appreciate the contribution of security agencies in enforcing the lockdown order, it important to remind the officers that their roles do not include brutalization and intimidation on innocent people.



As seen in the videos, some of the security officers themselves lack information on which category of businesses are part of the exempt category. The security officers should be provided with information on the category of businesses that forms part of the exempt businesses.

The security agencies are reminded that the majority of the 25% of women who are illiterate according to World Bank in 2020, are market women. As a result, instead of intimidating or brutalizing them, they should engage in providing some form of information on the lockdown to these women.

The Ministries of Defense and Interior must call the security officers engaged in such barbaric acts to order.

All Ghanaians are encouraged to comply with the directive of the president and to stick to the safety protocols.

Signed

Alimatu Issahak

Executive Director

(024 422 2675)

Shiela Adams

National Coordinator

(020 969 2623)