The Chief Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), Augustus Awity, has expressed worry over the practice of prominent persons in some communities in the area settling rape and defilement cases without handing over the perpetrators to the police. He said the trend was encouraging crime, adding that rape and defilement cases were serious felonies which could not be settled at home.
The Chief Director, therefore, urged the police to maintain a firm stance to deal ruthlessly with those who covertly settled such cases at home. Mr Awity was speaking at a day’s dialogue between the Department of Gender and 30 police officers, including personnel of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), in Ho.
The forum was aimed at building the capacity of DOVVSU officers to recognise the signs of violence document and respond to such cases and support survivors to get justice. It was also to help improve gender equality and achieve a reduction of domestic violence against women and girls in communities.
Mr Awity said those who settled cases of violence against women and girls at home were condoning the offence and perverting the course of justice. He said it was more disheartening to realise that among those who usually presided over such settlements were chiefs, pastors, assemblymen and politicians. Worse of all, other prominent people settled such cases for monetary gains.
Mr Awity said Ghana was not a lawless country, and for that matter, serious crimes should not be settled at home and allow the perpetrators to walk free and commit the offence again.
The Chronicle would like to applaud Mr Awity for speaking about a taboo topic which most people fear to talk about. First of all, this is a very sensitive and important topic that should be thoroughly discussed. For some time now, there has been the trend where cases of rape and defilement are being settled quietly within our communities, often without involving law enforcement agencies. This practice poses a severe threat to justice and perpetuates a cycle of impunity that endangers women and girls across the country.
Mr. Awity’s concern is not unfounded. He rightly pointed out that these crimes are serious felonies that demand decisive legal action, not secret settlements behind closed doors. Such actions not only undermine the judicial process but also fail to deter potential perpetrators from committing similar acts in the future.
It is alarming that individuals in positions of authority, including chiefs, pastors, assemblymen and politicians are often complicit in these clandestine arrangements, sometimes motivated by personal gain rather than justice.
The Chronicle holds the view that there is an urgent need for comprehensive action to nip the canker in the bud. The law enforcement agencies should be well equipped with the skills to recognise, document, and effectively respond to cases of violence against women and girls.
The Chronicle would like to emphasise the role of the police in maintaining a firm stance against those who seek to subvert justice by settling criminal cases privately. There should be ruthless action against perpetrators and those who shield them. It is essential for the police to assertively pursue justice in these cases to ensure that perpetrators face the full consequences of their actions and to provide survivors with the support needed to seek justice.
Equally significant is the need for a concerted effort to educate and empower parents and guardians. Parents play a pivotal role in safeguarding their children and must be aware of the legal implications of attempting to handle such sensitive matters privately. It is incumbent upon all citizens, especially those in positions of influence, to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice prevails.
Let us not falter in our duty to speak up, report, and support the victims of rape and defilement. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. Only through collective action and unwavering commitment can we create a safer and more just society for all.
