The Reproductive Needs and Fitness Foundation (RENEF), a non-governmental organization says it is disappointed about the way and manner the Bono Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) is handling cases of sexual violence and abuses against girls in the region.

It therefore called on the police administration to check the Unit in ensuring that cases of sexual violence against girls in the region were prosecuted accordingly, for the perpetrators to be brought to book.

The foundation comprises a team of health workers that seeks to champion the course of good health through public education with keen interest in reproductive health, sexual and gender-based violence.

 “In 2021, the RENEF team through our daily routine work at the hospital facilities encountered several cases of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation. As a reproductive health brand, the surging number of sexual and gender-based violence cases within the Sunyani Municipality and Bono region as a whole has called for the need to be apt”, it said in a statement issued in Sunyani.

A copy of the statement jointly signed by Abigail Antwi-Baafi, Co-Founder Executive Member, Gabriel Kwarfo, Financial Secretary and Irene Bonsing, Public Relations Officer and made available to the Sompa FM in Sunyani explained the foundation had identified several victims of sexual violence, reported and followed up, but “it seems DOVVSU is not proactive in handling such cases”.

“As a part of the interventions to curb the situation, we launched a new project dubbed beyond 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and prior to the launch, we had received complaints from victims who were dissatisfied with how the DOVVSU handled their cases after reporting”, it added.

Copies of the statement were sent to the Bono Regional Command, Ghana Police Service, the Department of Gender, Department of Social Welfare, and Department of Children.

 “A-32-year-old woman narrated her ordeal to us when she reported a case of her 13 years old girl who was constantly defiled by her partner. In her case, the man in question does have sexual relationship with herself and her daughter at the same time”.

 “Coupled with that, the man physically assaulted her to the extent of hospitalization any time she complained and refused him sexual intercourse. She reported the case to the DOVVSU but the perpetrator in that case if walking freely in town”, the statement indicated.

 “We supported to get her a place because we realized the matter could only be taken up again if she is independent. After renting a place for her the suspects Kwasi Mudo, insisted he will not allow her to move into her new apartment with her children (the 13 years old defiled girl and a three-year-old old boy).

“Another case is a 13-year-old girl (name withheld) who was pregnant for eight months without the knowledge of her parents and siblings. The case was referred to us by Ghana Education Service for assistance. She was immediately taken through the medical process and pregnancy was confirmed and antenatal started same day after which we reported the case to the Regional DOVVSU for intervention”, it said.

“RENEF aided the signing of her police report at a no cost, returned the form the following day to DOOVSU and was handed over to DOVVSU. Through the foundation the suspect was arrested but we were later told he had escaped. And nothing had been heard about the case”, the statement added.

“The foundation, on behalf of these victims, many others and their families write to respectively and humbly petition the Inspector General of Police and the National DOVVSU Coordinator to keep a close check on the DOVVSU Unit at the Sunyani Regional Police Office and also look into the cases”.

It said cases of sexual and domestic violence could be brought under control if victims who gathered the confidence to report their cases received justice, saying “as an NGO we can only support our own small way but the law urges stakeholders to persecute perpetrators which we confidently trust your offices stands for”.

“Kindly come to our aid and especially that of the victims and their families. Sunyani needs a more honest and passionate team at the DOVVSU so that our collaborative efforts to bring gender-based violence cases under control can yield positive results”, the statement added.

Source: Ghana/Sompaonline.com/K.Peprah