News
Forcibly sleeping with wife punishable – Experts
There is a limit to everything in this world and it is better for humans especially men to becareful of their actions and inactions that have the tendency of coming into conflict with the law.
It is, therefore, a crime for married men to forcibly have sex with their wives because marriage is not a guarantee for marital rape.
Two panelists at a stakeholders’ engagement on violence against women at Wa on Tuesday cautioned men against marital rape which according to them was punishable by law.
The panel members unanimously argued that although the general notion after marriage was that women were available for sex, there were instances they were overwhelmed by natural circumstances that did not permit sex and the husbands were expected to understand and excuse them.
The meeting formed part of a 16-days activism for the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children and was held by the Network for Young Women Empowerment, a non-governmental organization at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The Commander at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DVVSU) at the Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Adongo Apiiya said marital rape was seriously perpetuated in most homes and the women who were left victimised had no voice to complain due to social stigma.
“Marriage comes with sexual relations but when the woman says she is sick and not feeling well, she should not be coerced into having an affair she is not ready for because that could compound her situation”, he stated.
He explained that wellness was not just about the physical being and indicated that women could be suffering from some emotional or psychological trauma at the time and was incumbent on the husbands to see to their recovery before they requested for such intimate responsibilities from them.
“If a woman is bold enough to report marital rape to the police and she is able to provide enough evidence to substantiate her claims, the husband can suffer legal consequences because even though she is his wife, she has the right to say no to sex when she is not well”, he added.
He, however, cautioned women against hiding behind legal protection to deny their husbands sex when they were clearly capable of going into the act but encouraged them to embrace their marital responsibilities for happier homes.
Adding his voice, a broadcaster with the regional station of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Seidu Bhomajo also said even after the woman had consented to a sexual relation, she had the right to withdraw the consent in the course of the act and the man had to respect her wishes.
He called on his colleague males to regard sexual relations as an act of mutual understanding and avoid coercion in order to make their wives excited in their marriages.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
Empowering women is not merely an act of goodwill but a strategic investment in national development, the Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has said.
According to her, when women are given opportunities to participate fully in leadership and decision-making, the nation benefits from a broader pool of talent, ideas and perspectives.
In a message to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang praised the resilience, achievements and invaluable contributions of women to national development, urging them to take pride in their role in shaping the country’s progress.
The Vice President said Ghana’s theme for this year’s celebration: ‘Giving to Gain,’ reflected deliberate efforts being made to promote women’s participation in leadership and governance.
She explained that the intentional effort to ensure women constituted at least 30 per cent of government appointments recognised the important role women played in national development.
According to her, when women served as ministers, led key public institutions and contributed to policy formulation at the highest levels, the country benefited significantly.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that expanding opportunities for women should go beyond government institutions.
She said sectors such as business, academia, civil society, the creative industry and faith-based organisations would also benefit greatly from increased participation of women in leadership.
The Vice President, therefore called for continued support for initiatives that promoted gender equality and women’s empowerment across all sectors of society.
She also commended Ghanaian women for their resilience and dedication and wished them a happy International Women’s Day.
By Spectator Reporter
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WOMEN in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) successfully held the African Women’s Health and Wealth Conference (AWoHW) with a call for research and investment into women’s healthcare.
It also called for robust financial systems and encouraged women to generate wealth as well as prioritise their health.
The conference held at the Shippers House in Accra on March 5, was on the theme: ‘Championing Inclusive healthcare and finance systems for African women and girls.’
Speaking on behalf of Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sabia Kpekata, Programme Officer at the Ministry, said financial inclusion remains one of the most critical pathways to women’s empowerment and achieving sustainable development.
According to the minister, it is for this reason that the government continues to support initiatives that expand access to affordable credit, strengthen women-led enterprises and build financial literacy.
“Women must sit at the policy table where budgets are approved, health priorities are set, and economic policies are designed. This is why the ministry calls on all stakeholders to push for the effective implementation of the Affirmative Act,”
• Sabia Kpekata addressing the gathering
she stated.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, noted that many women suffer from mental health issues as a result of health financing, adding that, “this is why President Mahama has initiated the Accra Reset to tackle issues relating to women.”
On her part, the convener, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, explained that, “Today is not just a conference – It is a declaration. It is a declaration that African women and girls will no longer stand at the margins of systems that determine their health, their wealth, and their future.”
According to her, it is a declaration that sustainability is not a slogan for them, rather, it is a strategy, a commitment and a promise.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod Jewellery, Getrude Emefa Donkor, said saving alone cannot make one financially sound, adding that investing and having other sources of income was the best way to go.
WiSA is a Coordinating Pan-African Organisation that works with other CSOs, NGOs, Corporate Institutions, local and international development organisations and individuals to bring all women, men, young people and women groups together to foster the achievement of the SDGs across Africa
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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