Accra, Nov. 24, GNA - Parliament on Friday completed the debate on the Domestic Violence Bill with a unanimous call by members for an early passage of the Bill into law.
Debate on the Bill, which has generated a lot of interest started on Thursday.
Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children Affairs, the first to speak, said the Bill must be supported because it seeks to promote peace, reconciliation in the home, arguing, "if the home is at peace, society will benefit more."
Hajia Mahama said a nationwide sensitization programme by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs showed that majority of Ghanaians favoured the Bill and wished that it was passed quickly to save young girls, women and in certain cases men, from some of the pain of domestic violence.
She suggested a Victim Support Rehabilitation Fund to address the social cost implications of victims who have to go through the harrowing experiences of rape and abuse.
She asked the House to pass the Bill since it would bring about discipline, spirit of negotiation and respect in homes while keeping society bonded together.
Mr. Ken Dzirasah, NDC-South Tongu supported the Bill and agreed that a special fund be set up to ensure that people raped and injured during the process can receive support.
He however, indicated that a right source of funding be found for the Bills being passed by the House.
"When a Bill is passed without a specific appropriation Act, it gives room for funding difficulties," saying that, "several bills have been passed by this House like this."
Francis Agbotse, NDC-Ho West said the Bill was vital since it would look at addressing the psychological aspect of domestic violence.
"Domestic violence is not only physical. It is also psychological as some people have to live with the situation for several years without support."
Cecilia Obeng Dapaah, NPP-Abirem urged the passage of the bill arguing that it was a voice for the voiceless, men, women and all in society.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, NDC-Asunafo South said he was confused that even though violence had been criminalized in the law books, "yet it permeates our society and I wonder if criminalizing domestic violence would change matters."
He called for aggressive education for accelerated acceptance of the Bill, "otherwise the issues that it seeks to address and eliminate would not be overcome.
Mr Edward Salia, NDC Jirapa urged the House to re-introduce at a later stage the aspect of the Bill, which deals with marital rape. He said it addresses a major aspect of domestic life and should be reintroduced at some stage to make women whose husbands turn against them to have respite.
"If a man is not in the mood for sex, there can be no sex. The same must be for women who do not want sex," Mr Salia, who said he had four daughters and would not want them maltreated, explained.
