|
Domestic violence cases on the rise
in Ashanti Region
Kumasi, Jan. 28, Ghanadot/GNA - The Domestic Violence and
Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service
in the Ashanti Region, received 2,059 domestic violence
cases in 2008 as against 1,911 in 2007.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Appiah-Sakyi,
Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the Unit, who told the
Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Kumasi, cited
increased public awareness as the reason for the rise.
He said public awareness creation and education on
assertiveness and human rights issues, which had taken a
centre stage in the Unit’s programmes over the years, had
emboldened victims who suffer various abuses to report such
cases.
Giving the breakdown, he said a total of 1,152 cases were
recorded last year under child neglect, 258 under assault
and 186 defilement cases.
For threat to harm, rape and abduction, 79, 50, and 44 were
recorded respectively.
He said for this year alone, 144 cases had been sent to
court with 46 convicted.
Additionally, 1,223 were still under investigation, 15 cases
referred to the Family Tribunal for amicable settlement,
while 703 were settled under the Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR).
ASP Appiah-Sakyi said since domestic violence and crime in
general is a phenomenon that emanates from unpredictable
human behaviour.
However, he said, the success of every police service was
not the number of cases received and prosecuted, but rather
the ability to maintain peace and order.
He thanked the media for helping to publicise court verdicts
on domestic violence cases which according to him had helped
to deter others from committing similar crimes.
GNA
|
