[ 2017-03-17 ]

Government given 6-months to put money into Domestic Violence Fund
An Accra High Court has ordered government to
allocate money to the domestic violence support
fund to provide free medical care for victims of
domestic violence.

Justice Anthony Yeboah granted the reliefs sought
by a private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu after
the Attorney-General's Department failed to enter
an appearance.

During proceedings, Martin Kpedu revealed that the
Fund, a statutory creation has not received a dime
from government, at least, 10 years after it was
created by the Domestic Violence Act passed in
2007.

The Act states in Section 29: Establishment of
Fund "There is established by this Act a Victims
of Domestic Violence Support Fund."

Stating the objectives of the Fund, the Act
further explains that the Fund shall be applied;

(a) towards the basic material support of victims
of domestic violence,

(b)for training the families of victims of
domestic violence,

(c) for any matter connected with the rescue,
rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of
domestic violence,

(d) towards the construction of reception shelters
for victims of domestic violence in regions and
districts, and

(e) for training and capacity building of persons
connected with the provision of shelter,
rehabilitation and reintegration.
Sources of money for the Fund

31. The moneys for the Fund include

(a) voluntary contributions to the Fund from
individuals, organizations and the private
sector;

(b) moneys approved by Parliament for payment into
the Fund, and

(c) moneys from any other source approved by the
Minister responsible for finance.

Ghana recorded 84,142 cases of sexual and
gender-based violence nationwide from 2009 to
2013.

Statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victims
Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service
indicated that 15,426 cases of sexual and
gender-based violence with 14,415 assault cases on
women were recorded in 2014.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

... go Back