Ashanti DOVVSU records 1,023 parental neglect cases

The Ashanti Region Police Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU), recorded a total of 1,023 cases of parental neglect in year 2010. During the period there were also 214 defilement cases. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Amoako, the Regional Coordinator, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Kumasi. He said the unit at the same time received 307 cases of physical assault and mentioned threat of harm, stealing, rape, incest and abduction among the other offences reported to them. The least crimes recorded were human trafficking and sexual harassment, registering one case each. He said it was heart-warming that the people were now reporting domestic violence issues due to the awareness created. DSP Amoako said they successfully prosecuted and obtained 32 convictions out of the 109 cases sent to the courts. Six suspects were, however, acquitted and discharged, while prosecution of the remaining 71 is on-going. He said 1,229 of the cases are still under investigation. The Regional DOVVSU Coordinator encouraged all domestic violence victims to be bold and report to the police to bring the offenders to justice. He appealed to the media and other civil society groups to help to sustain the fight to check domestic violence in the country.