The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Linda Van Otoo has called on men in the country to support the fight against rape and other forms of sexual violence.
Speaking at an event to commemorate International Day for the Girl Child in Accra yesterday [Tuesday], Dr Van Otoo bemoaned the increasing rate of rape cases in the country saying urgent steps need to be taken to stop the problem.
“We in Ghana must stand up against rape and I will add that everybody must be involved, especially the men because we believe that the men must stand up against this act. In Greater Accra and in the whole country, it is sad to learn that some girls at the age of 14 are pregnant. Why should a young child at that age be pregnant, what did the man tell her?” she said.
The Domestic Victims and Violence Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service show an alarming trend of rape and defilement cases in the country with young girls being the most victims.
The Regional Health Director noted that Ghanaians need to make themselves advocates against rape to help reduce the incidents in the country.
‘1,296 girls defiled, 335 women raped’
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) last year revealed that a total of 1,296 girls in the country were defiled, while 335 other women were raped in 2014.
Christiana Ankamah, Ashanti Regional Director of the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry, who revealed the startling figures, said 17,778 gender-related abuses were recorded and studies had also established that a significant proportion of Ghanaian women – about 27% have in their life time suffered sex abuse.
She described the situation as unhealthy and called on all to work together to fight it.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana