Be bold and report domestic violence cases to police

Chief Superintendent Asiedu Asamoah of the Ghana Police hospital has advised Ghanaians, especially women, to abhor domestic violence and be bold to report such cases to the police without delay.

He said reporting such cases is an effective way of helping the police to properly address the menace which is secretly destroying many lives.

Chief Superintendent Asiedu Asamoah said until victims come out of their shells, gender-based violence will persist and cause irreparable damages to them.

He was speaking at a sensitization workshop on gender-based violence for residents of Mamobi in Accra organized by Inerela Ghana, an NGO.

Inerela Ghana is an NGO with the aim of combating domestic violence against women and children in the country.
Established in August 2010, their mission is to empower religious leaders, vulnerable women and children through education, knowledge and skill training to live positively, becoming symbols of hope and agents of change, which help eliminate stigma, discrimination and promote gender Justice and human rights.

The aim of the campaign was to sensitize the public to the need to stop or report domestic violence related issues. Chief Superintendent Asiedu Asamoah said domestic violence is a silent killer as people are either afraid or feel shy to report such issues.

He therefore encouraged victims to speak up about their ordeal so they can be supported and helped by family and the appropriate authority.

DSP Mavis Adjei of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana police service stressed that the law will not spare anyone found committing domestic base violence and the police will severely deal with such persons.

She urged parents not to shield or take money from adults who molest their children but rather report such criminals to the DOVVSU.

The national coordinator of Inerela Ghana, Mrs. Mercy Acquah Hayford, said  domestic violence can have a life time effect on victims and therefore called on society and family of such victims to be supportive and not judgmental.

He urged the Police to speed up the processes and procedures when such cases are brought to their quarters.