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Stay away from abusive relationships — DOVVSU
The Head of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police service in the Upper West Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Adongo Apiiya has encouraged women to flee abusive relationships and marriages before they were visited with perpetual harm.
He explained that although domestic abuse could be suffered by either partner in a relationship, the issue was very prevalent among women given their biological and physiological make-up.
“When the husband hits you for the first time, do not let it slide, talk over it, make sure to get proper compensation for that singular act because condoning violence with the hope that the person will change has led to the deaths of some women whereas others had developed mental issues”, he said.
ASP Apiiya said this at a meeting of community and institutional stakeholders on Gender and Sexual Based Violence at Wa on Monday.
His comment came at the backdrop of recent media reports of spousal killings in the country with mostly women at the receiving end.
“Domestic violence is punishable by law but if you allow yourself to be tortured by your spouse to the point of no repair, the law may of course take its course but you may never regain your old self and in instances where the victims die, there is no law under this earth that can bring the person back to life so personal safety should come first”, he admonished.
ASP Apiiya recounted instances where victims had reported abuse cases to DOVVSU and the perpetrators had been dealt with according to the law but the victims remained maimed for life.
“I am not in any way asking that you leave your relationships or marriages at the least provocation but then you need to talk over issues and ensure that no violent act is gone unpunished; if it is becoming unbearable, you can seek help from DOVVSU, the Department of Gender Social Welfare, Legal Aid and others; we can handle the issue promptly to avoid further harm”, he said.
He defined domestic violence as “a pattern of behaviour that frightened, intimidated, humiliated, manipulated or hurt another person in an intimate relationship including marriage, cohabitation, dating or relations within the family.”
He categorised the abuses into physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic violence and said either of the aforementioned had the tendency of causing either physical, emotional or mental harm to the sufferer.
In reference to the 1992 Constitution, ASP Apily, expressed that the Domestic Violence Act, 2007, Act 732 made provisions for the police to apply for protection, court order, free medical care, among others for victims of domestic abuse.
He encouraged women not to shield their abusive spouses in order to safeguard their physical and mental wellbeing.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
By Spectator Reporter
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
