Let’s wage battle against sexual, gender-based violence — Asokore MCE
Traditional and religious leaders have been called upon to take the lead in waging a relentless war against the increasing trend of sexual and cases of gender-based violence in the country.
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The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Asokore Municipal Assembly, Alhaji Nuhu Hamidan, made the appealed and added that as the head of the district security council, he would not countenance any move to settle such cases at home, because he would ensure that the law dealt ruthlessly with such suspects, to serve as deterrent to others.
Community durbar
Alhaji Hamidan was speaking at a community durbar at Asokore Mampong, on how to end sexual and gender-based violence in Ghana. It was organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in partnership with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
Sexual and gender-based violence is any form of abuse meted out to an individual based on the person’s sex.
Statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU) indicate that from 2002 and 2013, there was a steady rise in reported cases of domestic violence from 7,852 to 18,795, while the total cases of assault between 1998 and 2013 were 43,431.
The MCE noted that before the advent of the white man to the Gold Coast, the traditional leaders managed and ruled the various communities with time-tested rules and regulations that minimised such antisocial behaviour.
He explained that although Ghana had attained a republic status, the traditional and religious leaders still wielded a lot of influence and respect, and appealed to them to ensure that those who perpetuated such heinous crimes against their fellow human beings were made to face the law.
Security agencies
Alhaji Hamidan called on members of the community and family members of sexual and gender-based violence victims not to shield persons who indulged in such acts, but report them to the security agencies.
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He explained that the danger involved in shielding such suspects was that they would be emboldened to treat more people in such wicked manner and also destroy the future and lives of other persons, especially, children.
He said both the Holy Koran and the Holy Bible frowned on wicked acts in the form of sexual and gender-based violence against fellow human beings and appealed to the leadership of the Christian and Muslim faith to help stop the menace.
Gender officer
The Ashanti Regional Gender Officer of the Department of Gender, Mrs Christiana Ankomah, said the issue of sexual and gender-based violence had been underestimated. However, it had caused harm, maimed people and in some cases, led to the death of victims as well as loss of property.
She was unhappy that though there were national and international laws criminalising these acts and spelling out sanctions, women were being abused, killed and maimed, with instances being acid attacks.
Mrs Ankomah said there was the need for all to understand the impact of these vices in order to mobilise resources to deal with the menace, and also urged those in authority to help protect the vulnerable.