The importance of refresher courses and continuous learning cannot be overemphasized. That is why the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana is supporting 50 personnel of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) case docket management. The training is from 3rd to 20th August at the Detective Training Academy of the National Police Academy & Training School in Accra.
In a brief opening ceremony for the training, the Director General of Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Isaac Ken Yeboah stated that the manner in which DOVVSU personnel handle SGBV cases is crucial in making perpetrators face the law. He called on investigators to be professional in their line of duty. COP Yeboah expressed hope that at the end of the training, investigators will be equipped with the requisite skills to fight SGBV in Ghana.
The Deputy Country Representative of UNFPA, Dr. Agnes Ntibanyurwa said the goals of prosecution of SGBV cases are to protect the victims while holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, and communicate a strong message to the community that such an abuse will not be tolerated. As an organization, we are committed to ending all forms of abuse including SGBV as they are act of human right violations. It is for this reason that we are happy that DOVVSU is sharpening the skills of prosecutors especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to curb such incidences from surging. Dr. Ntibanyurwa encouraged the trainees to make the most out of the course since “it is our hope that your participation in this training will yield results”, she added.
The DOVVSU National Coordinator, Chief Superintendent Owusuwaa Kyeremeh indicated that 250 DOVVSU investigators are scheduled to be trained by the end of the year with support from UNFPA. She stressed that strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols will be observed throughout the three-week training.
Sergeant Edward Anim, one of the trainee investigators in outlining his expectation for the training said “I am looking forward to be equipped with modern skills in handling SGBV cases in this era of digital exposure. Crime continues to evolve so it is important that Police personnel are also equipped with current knowledge to be able to fight it” he echoed.
