Accra, July 22, GNA – Despite efforts by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service to curb domestic violence through education, 2009 figures show that the offence is on the increase. Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, Public Relations Officer of DOVVSU, told the GNA in an interview that sexual offences increased from 767 in 2008 to 806 in 2009. Defilement increased from 127 to 129, assault from 552 to 584, rape from 35 to 42, abduction from 36 to 40, with the exception of indecent assault which decreased from 15 to 10 and incest that decreased from two 2 to one. Chief Inspector Oppong said victims found it difficult to pay fees for police medical forms, which range between GH 20 to GH 50, when they are sexually abused. She said some victims don’t report their cases on time and that though the act cannot be eliminated because human emotion cannot be controlled, the police could minimize sexual offences. “We are still educating the people for them to know their rights and responsibilities to quickly report to the police whenever they are sexually abused,” she said. Chief Inspector Oppong said DOVVSU carried out its education programmes through outrage programmes in schools, lorry parks and churches. She said there is a perception that most reported cases are not true but about 99% of the cases they investigate turn out to be true. 23 July 09
