Kumasi, Jan. 28, GNA - The Domestic Violence and Victims' Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in the Ashanti Region, received 2,059 domestic violence cases in 2008 as against 1,911 in 2007. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Appiah-Sakyi, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the Unit, who told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Kumasi, cited increased public awareness as the reason for the rise.

He said public awareness creation and education on assertiveness and human rights issues, which had taken a centre stage in the Unit's programmes over the years, had emboldened victims who suffer various abuses to report such cases.

Giving the breakdown, he said a total of 1,152 cases were recorded last year under child neglect, 258 under assault and 186 defilement cases. For threat to harm, rape and abduction, 79, 50, and 44 were recorded respectively.

He said for this year alone, 144 cases had been sent to court with 46 convicted.

Additionally, 1,223 were still under investigation, 15 cases referred to the Family Tribunal for amicable settlement, while 703 were settled under the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

ASP Appiah-Sakyi said since domestic violence and crime in general is a phenomenon that emanates from unpredictable human behaviour. However, he said, the success of every police service was not the number of cases received and prosecuted, but rather the ability to maintain peace and order.

He thanked the media for helping to publicise court verdicts on domestic violence cases which according to him had helped to deter others from committing similar crimes.