The Police Management Board (POMAB) and Regional Police Commanders were convened by the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU)—Ghana Police Service and UNFPA to Sogakofe, Volta Region, for a working session on the elimination of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and other harmful practices.

The event allowed for extensive discussions and the sharing of best practices aimed at enabling the law enforcers to be duly prepared to actively deal with incidences of abuse and violence meted out to victims based on their gender and sex.

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, who opened, and also participated in the workshop, reminded the senior police officers of the human right violations and life-threatening harm caused to victims of gender-based violence, and the need for it to be strongly dealt with.

Speaking to the media, the IGP assured the public of the readiness of the Police Administration to support initiatives geared towards addressing the effects of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

The UNFPA Representative in Ghana, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, in his address at the opening of the session mentioned that, providing security for the Ghanaian citizenry, particularly women and children was vital to nation-building and development,

‘Victims of violence suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections and even deaths”, he added.