By Priscilla Oye Ofori
Accra, July 3, GNA – The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service is calling for urgent financial support to enhance its operations and better protect victims of abuse.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Owusuwaa Kyeremeh, Director of DOVVSU, said the Unit lacked essential resources and logistics, including rescue vehicles, which hindered its effectiveness.
She made the appeal during a media engagement on the Unit’s activities and the need for stronger collaboration with the media in tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Established in October 1998 as the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU), DOVVSU was renamed in 2005 to reflect its broader mandate and encourage more men to report abuse, as the original name created the impression it served only women and children.
The Unit addresses all forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional/psychological, socio-economic, and harmful cultural practices.
ASP Kyeremeh said DOVVSU operated a One-Stop Centre for victims of domestic and gender-based violence, offering services such as rescue operations, basic counselling, clinical and laboratory support—all of which required substantial funding the Unit currently lacked.
“The Centre has interview rooms, a clinic that provides free healthcare, a District and Circuit Court, and offers services including legal aid, counselling, and social welfare,” she said.
She noted that DOVVSU also provides shelter and food for rescued victims but was often underfunded, forcing the Unit to rely heavily on donations from individuals, sponsors, and NGOs.
“We are always begging,” she said. “Victims are given all the support required to heal.”
The lack of adequate funding, she stressed, delayed justice.
“Evidence are lost, accused persons escape before being apprehended, and justice is delayed or denied,” she explained.
ASP Kyeremeh urged the public to report all forms of violence to DOVVSU, assuring that all services, including clinical investigations, are free.
GNA
EDited by Kenneth Sackey