By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
The Domestic violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service is calling for urgent financial support to enhance it’s operations and better protect victims of abuse.
The Director of DOVVSU, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Owusuwaa Kyeremeh, said the Unit lacked essential resources and logistics, including rescue vehicles, which hindered it’s effectives.
She made the appeal during a media engagement on the Units activities and the need for stronger collaboration with the media in tackling Gender-Based violence (GBV).
ASP said that DOVVSU provides shelter and food for rescued victims but was often under funded, forcing the Unit to rely heavily on donations from individuals, sponsorship, and NGO’s.
According to her, the lack of adequate funding, she stressed delayed justice.
She continued that evidence are lost, accused persons escape before being apprehended, and justice is delayed or denied.
She said the centre has interview clinic, rooms, that provides free healthcare, a District and circuit court, and offers services including legal and counselling and social welfare.
The Unit addresses all forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, socio-economic, and harmful cultural practices.
Madam Kyeremeh concluded that 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.
Established in October 1998 as Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU), DOVVSU was renamed in 2005 to reflect it’s broader mandate and encourage more men to report abuse, as the original name created the impression it served.
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