Police looking for policy to resolve sexual harassment cases

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 Feb. '99

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Miss Esther Appiah of the Police Women and Juvenile Unit, yesterday said they are looking for specific policies from the government to resolve cases of sexual harassment of women. "We are looking forward to clear cut policies from the government so that we can act and prosecute men who harass women at their work places''. In an interview at Accra she said due to insufficient evidence, cases of sexual harassment are hardly reported by women. Even if they are reported, the victims are unwilling to go to the open court for fear of public ridicule, she said, adding that they rather want the accused persons to sign bonds of good behaviour. D.S.P. Appiah also stressed that family relations hinder the work of the police saying ''just as we think we are making a headway in our investigations to prosecute accused persons, relatives come in to withdraw the cases to settle them". "This is a waste of our time and stationery." DSP Appiah said relatives, who report minor cases of assault and fighting normally want the men to sign bonds rather than be prosecuted.

She said battered wives who want their husbands prosecuted are those who have lost interest in their marriages and those who do not want prosecution do so for the sake of their children.