Rape And Defilement: Cases Must Be Settled At The Law Court Not Palace, Home Or The Church, – Gender Minister Advises

Listen to this article Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Rape and Defilement has been a very big challenge in the society especially in the developing communities for this reason, the minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection who doubles as the member of parliament for Agona West constituency, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, has waded into the challenge and has advised victims, to settle all issues of rape and defilement at the competent jurisdiction of the law court but not home, palace nor church.

According to the cabinet minister, perpetrators of such crimes seek asylum from chiefs and other opinion leaders to settle the cases amicably without the intervention of the law court which to her is a bad practice and opinion leaders must desist from such acts.

Hon. Cynthia Morrison made these remarks at the Community Dialogue Series on Sexual Violence Against Girls & Boys organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection an initiative of her ministry to sensitize the public on such cases at Akyem Amonom near Abomosu in the Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region.

She called on traditional leaders, parents, and stakeholders to train boys ( Men) to share duties with girls ( women ) in order that they can co – exist and work peacefully in future.

“… Cases like rape. We have realised that when perpetrators or Rape are rich, chief, opinion leaders or are from rich families, chiefs settle the cases at the palace. But they tend to arrest a rapist whose background is poor. If a chief, MP, Minister, or president rapes a person, it should be settled at the law court not the palace:- Hon. Morrison added.

Moreover, the hardworking minister revealed that attempting to settle these cases in the palce or homes are against the law and such people need to be arrested.

According to her, her ministry has focused on travelling to communities and have a one-on-one dialogue with them so as they can address any concerns of the communities for which reason they are in Atiwa.

Hon. Cynthia Morrison cautioned girls & boys not to follow strangers in search of greener pastures outside the country since they could be trafficked, led into drug abuse or engaged in child labour.

Furthermore, she advised children who suffered sexual abuse to confide in trusted relatives, friends to help them report to the Police.

She also disclosed that the government has put on measures to Punish perpetrators of Rape.

Again, she urged stakeholders, Chiefs & elders in the community to offer help to Victims of Rape by supporting them with money to settle hospital bills, among other forms of aids to the family of the Victim.

The District Chief Executive of Atiwa West, Mr. Isaac Akumaning Asamoah took turn to advise the constituents to fully partake in the upcoming National Identification Exercise slated for 4th – 31st March, 2020.

The Chairperson for the Occasion, Nana Asamoah Paadie III – Chief of Akyem Amonom also advised their community members to do all they can to stay away from cases of rape and defilement.

The Community Dialogue Series takes place in the Atiwa East and West Districts of the Eastern Region of Ghana from 24th – 28th February, 2020 at 9:30am each day.

The Community Dialogue Series is an initiative instituted by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as part of measures the Ministry is taking to deepen understanding and create awareness on social issues such as Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and the various social intervention programmes being implemented in the country. The Dialogue which is facilitated by the sector Minister, creates a platform for the public, especially those in the rural areas across the country, to interact with the Gender Minister and her Heads of Departments on a range of social issues bothering them.

The presence of the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Members of Parliaments, District Chief Executives and top officials from the Ministry will provide the press an opportunity for interviews on how the Ministry is delivering on its mandate of ensuring policy formulation, coordination, and monitoring of gender, children and social protection issues in in Ghana.

By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi