Police record increased cases of child abuse

Accra, June 14, GNA - The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service recorded a total of 908 child abuse cases between January and March 2006 compared to the 842 documented during the same period in 2005.

The increase, according to ASP Cecilia Arko, Supervising Officer of DOVVSU in charge of the Greater Accra Region, was because of the awareness and advocacy campaigns mounted over the years to encourage people to report such offences.

She told the GNA in an interview that education on the rights of the individual to report such abuses had gone down well with the people and given them the needed confidence to report anytime they occurred. ASP Arko said people should report such cases to the Police adding that until such cases were reported, perpetrators would continue to harm innocent children and hamper their psychological and physical development.

She said reporting abuses against children was everybody's business and all and sundry should come together to support the fight against child abuse.

ASP Arko called on parents to take up their parental responsibilities and go closer to their children in order to win their confidence, listen and help them to overcome their difficulties.