Ministry inaugurates Domestic Violence Management Board
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Nana Oye Lithur, has expressed concern over the emerging trend of cyber-based violence, including the exposure of minors to pornography.
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These web postings which were done without the consent of the persons involved violated their privacy right which was guaranteed under article 18 of the 1992 Constitution, she said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Domestic Violence Management Board in Accra yesterday, Nana Oye indicated that the ministry had requested the Ghana Police Service to dispassionately investigate and prosecute perpetrators of the act, emphasising that “the circulation and posting of the videos and pictures in the media is not Ghanaian and also morally wrong.”
She specifically condemned the recent circulation of sexually explicit videos and pictures involving some young women from Tamale, who are reported to have gone into hiding, and said the ministry had directed the Northern Regional Directorate of Social Welfare to locate and provide psychosocial support and shelter for the women.
High prevalence of domestic violence
Nana Oye indicated that the high prevalence for domestic violence in the country threatened the security of every individual and the nation’s development.
According to her, despite the efforts made to curb the menace, the country, continued to witness steady increase in domestic violence cases.
“It is even more worrying that the modes of perpetrating this offence are becoming more complicated, coupled with a growing sense of impunity,” she said.
Statistics, she said, revealed that between 2011 and 2013, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) recorded over 54,000, cases.
Mandate
The 16-member board is charged with the responsibility of making recommendations, monitoring and reporting on the progress of the National Plan of Action against Domestic Violence.
It is also to propose strategies to prevent and combat domestic violence in the country as well as liaise with agencies to promote the rehabilitation and integration of victims of domestic violence.
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Nana Oye disclosed that the ministry had secured funds from the Department for International Development, UK (DFID), The Netherlands and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) to undertake a nationwide research on violence against women and girls, campaign against early child and forced marriage and to end all forms of violence against women and girls, respectively.
Board members
The 16-member board has the minister as its chair and Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, Minister of State at the Presidency; Ms Rosemary Ardayfio, Sub-Editor of the Daily Graphic; Ms Sophia Karen Ackuaku, Deputy Executive Director of Operation, National Service Scheme; Mr Kwesi Armo-Himbson, Coordinating Director (MoGCSP), Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa, Judicial Service, as members.
Other members are Messrs Carlos De-Souza, Legal Practitioner; Ernest Otoo, Ministry of Education; Joseph Adomako, Attorney General’s Department; Aldof Awuku Bekoe, Domestic Violence Coalition; Dr Patrick K. Aboagye, Ministry of Health; Nortey Dua, Ghana Medical School; Ms Lawrencia Akorli, Coordinator, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU); Ms Dorothy Onny, Director, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The rest are Mr Lawrence Ofori-Addo, Department of Social Welfare, and Nana Ama Ayensu Saara III, Queenmother of Denkyira.