Stay at home measures not justification to commit domestic violence - DOVVSU

The Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has cautioned the public against committing domestic violence as they observed the ‘stay at home’ protocol meant to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Superintendent of Police, Mr. George Appiah-Sakyi, Central Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU who gave the caution noted that measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 could create anxiety, depression, and uncertainties.

These he indicated were major psycho-social factors that could lead to committing crimes including domestic violence.

According to him, there were, therefore, increasing reported cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBVs) Worldwide.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Cape Coast, Supt. Appiah-Sakyi said irrespective of the hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic, no one was permitted to beat, harass, insult, threaten or make derogatory remarks within the domestic setting.

Supt. Appiah-Sakyi acknowledged that the emergence of COVID-19 and the measures put in place to handle it carried both positive and negative ramifications in the domestic setting.

He, therefore, advised Ghanaians to look out for the positives to solidify weak family bonds and repair broken homes.

“An ideal home is one with the regular presence of the father, mother, and other householders” and such an environment would provide an avenue for a healthy resolution of unresolved conflicts.

Giving an overview of the domestic violence trends in the Central Region, Supt. Appiah-Sakyi said the region recorded 326 cases of domestic violence in the first quarter of 2020 as against the over 500 cases recorded the same period last year.

He said the regional secretariat had over the years embarked on numerous anti-domestic violence sensitisation campaigns tailored to meet the needs of households and reiterated its resolve to step up its sensitisation activities.

He said the office was well-positioned to handle the excesses of domestic violence cases as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but appealed for the supply of communication gadgets to support its wort.