Private legal practitioner Austin Brako-Powers says previous domestic violence complaints withdrawn by Nana Akua Addo’s husband can be reported to the police again, stressing that “crime does not expire”.
Brako-Powers was responding to questions about whether Harold Duodu Norman could seek to reopen alleged assault cases he had previously withdrawn against the Ghanaian actress and fashionista.
He said withdrawing a complaint did not permanently prevent a victim from reporting the matter again. If abuse continued or was repeated, the incidents could be reported and dealt with through the legal process under Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732).
The issue follows a statement issued by lawyers representing Norman after videos and photographs appearing to show Nana Akua Addo being assaulted circulated online. In the statement, the lawyers alleged that Nana Akua Addo had attacked their client on several occasions during their marriage.
“Note that this would be the third time Nana Akua Addo had stabbed him in the course of their marriage amidst destruction of household items and inflicting injuries on members of the household when she is angry,” the statement said.
It added that many of the alleged incidents had been reported to police stations at Nmai Dzorn, Spintex and East Legon, among other locations.
“All of these criminal complaints of violence were withdrawn by our client following several pleas from her friends and family in order to protect her public image as ‘a star’ and for the sake of the children of the marriage,” the lawyers said.
Speaking on the Onua Maadwo programme with presenter Asoreba Thunderh on Onua FM 95.1, Brako-Powers urged people experiencing domestic abuse, including men, to report it rather than remain silent.
He said male victims should not be discouraged by social expectations that men should not cry or should be strong enough to endure pain.
“Domestic violence is not only a women’s issue. Men who experience abuse from their partners or wives should also speak up, seek help and allow the law to take its course. Abuse should not be kept to yourself or tolerated in silence,” Brako-Powers stated.
The Ghana Police Service said in a press release issued on 7th October 2026 that it had acted on a petition filed against Norman by Nana Akua Addo.
According to the police, Norman was arrested on 27th August, 2026 and granted Police enquiry bail with two sureties.
“The accused person was due to be put before court today, however, his lawyers notified the Police that his client had been admitted at the hospital and therefore was unable to appear before the court as had been scheduled,” the statement said.
Investigators from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) have visited the hospital to verify the claim, the police added, and are monitoring the situation to ensure Norman is brought before the court immediately after his discharge.
