Police urged to handle domestic violence cases seriously

Kumasi, Jan. 24, GNA- Personnel of the Ghana Police Service have been asked to handle domestic violence cases reported to them seriously to protect the rights of women and children who are mostly victims of the problem. They have also been advised to be impartial in dealing such cases and allow the law to take its own course.

The call was made by Mr. Asare Bediako, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police. He was speaking on the topic "The obstacles to the implementation of the Domestic Violence Law," at a day's seminar for selected women groups from the Ashanti Region, in Kumasi on Thursday. Mr Bediako cautioned the police against collecting bribes and gifts from perpetrators of domestic violence to pervert justice saying that could discourage victims from seeking redress legally.

Mrs. Eudora Oppong, an official of the Federation of International Women lawyers, said the domestic violence law was enacted against domestic violence which was on the increase in the country. She urged Ghanaians, particularly women to be abreast with law on domestic violence to enable them fight for the rights. Mrs. Patricia Kyeremanteng, an official of the Kumasi office of the Department of Social Welfare, advised parents to invest in the education of their children, especially the girl-child to enable them to acquire knowledge and skills needed for development.

The event that was organised under the auspices of the Department of Women under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs had "Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles and Violence against Women," as the theme. Some of the topics discussed included "The Domestic Violence Law and Challenges to its Implementation, as well as the Health Implications of Violence against Women.''