{"id":365904,"date":"2017-10-28T12:44:12","date_gmt":"2017-10-28T12:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=365904"},"modified":"2017-10-28T12:44:12","modified_gmt":"2017-10-28T12:44:12","slug":"leave-defilement-cases-to-police-otiko-tells-chiefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/10\/leave-defilement-cases-to-police-otiko-tells-chiefs\/","title":{"rendered":"Leave defilement cases to Police – Otiko tells chiefs"},"content":{"rendered":"
The\u00a0Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Djaba, has asked traditional leaders to desist from arbitrating criminal matters,\u00a0like the case of the\u00a0alleged defilement of a four-year-old girl at\u00a0Assin Adadientem in the Central Region.<\/p>\n
The chief in Assin Adadientem was reported to have declared the suspect in the alleged defilement case innocent, after a ruling from the gods, and was accused of impeding investigations into the incident.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”d2leVgCwEdUmnTG35USRq3SebZnNTas3″]The four-year-old was allegedly defiled by an 18-year old suspect, and is said to have bled for three days, according to her parents.<\/p>\n
Madam Otiko, in a statement sympathizing with the four-year-old victim, stressed that the Police must have first say in these matters.<\/p>\n
“We acknowledge the role of our traditional and opinion leaders; however, we would like to advise them not to arbitrate on such criminal matters. Defilement is a criminal offence and all such acts should first be reported to the Police.<\/p>\n
The Minister has since directed officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Children\u2019s Department to visit the victim and her family “to ascertain the facts about her welfare for necessary action to be taken.”<\/p>\n
“I am also preparing to personally pay a visit to the little girl and her family to affirm our readiness to support the victim to receive justice and restore her dignity,” she added in her statement.<\/p>\n
This case of abuse has sparked outrage among the public, and has prompted campaigns in support of the alleged victim and awareness creation for the rate at which minors are being defiled.<\/p>\n
Madam Otiko herself described the numbers as “extremely worrying”, noting that in 2015 alone, DOVVSU recorded defilement 1,196 cases, with only 16 not involving a girl-child.<\/p>\n
“The Ministry wants to assure Ghanaians that we are very sensitive to issues concerning the welfare of the vulnerable in our society and will continue to promote their rights, their well-being and development. We are liaising with other agencies for justice to be carried out for this little girl to serve as a deterrent to such abusers.”<\/p>\n