GHANA: Rape and Defilement Charge is 25 Years Imprisonnment

Inspector Dwamena Akenten, Station Officer of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in the Western Region at the weekend disclosed that persons who are convicted on rape charges would be sentence for between five and twenty-five years.

He said for defilement cases the sentence ranged between seven years and 25 years imprisonment.

Inspector Akenten explained this during a day's seminar on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (GBV) attended by the host community and Refugees from cote d'lvoire, at Ampain in the Western Region at the weekend. It was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

He said having sex with a child less than 16 years is defilement, adding that rape was also the incidence of having sex with a female of 16 years and above without her consent.

He advised the Police not to demand money from victim it is free and also urges the Public to call on the Police for assistance when the needs arise.

Inspector Akenten asked the people in the Region to contract the police on telephone number 03120-46721 for assistance.

Ms Bridget Asiamah, National Programme Analyst – Reproductive Health/ Humanitarian Assistance of UNFPA said those who suffered from gender-based violence were Women and Children.

She said it was time for the perpetrators to be punished for their violent actions.

She called on the Government, Security Personnel, Health Service providers, UN agencies, NADMO, and NGOs to collectively address gender and sexually-related violence in the country.

The chiefs and the elders of the Ampain community expressed their gratitude to UNFPA for enlightening them on sexual and gender-based violence.

The community leaders assured the organizers that they will put in place measures to reduce gender and sexually-based violence in the area.