The Law on Defilement in Ghana and Challenges in its Implementation at the Ejisu-Juabeng Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service

Abstract

Ghana like other African countries has been involved in the universal effort to uphold reproductive justice for children including adolescents. The country’s efforts have been predominately geared towards legislation and prosecution of defilement cases. The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Police Service (DOVVSU), is directly responsible for such prosecutions. The objective of this study was to assess the implementation of the law on defilement at the DOVVSU of Ejisu-Juabeng Municipality of Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study involved in-depth interview of the staff and analysis of police dockets on cases of defilement filed at the local DOVVSU office. Thematic analyses of the in-depth interviews were done. The case records were summarised using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that Ghana has a comprehensive law on defilement. Many complaints of defilement were filed at DOVVSU during the period under review. Majority of the cases were abandoned or withdrawn for settlement out of court.  Settlement of defilement cases outside court violates the very spirit and letter of the law on defilement in Ghana. Further research is needed to establish why cases are withdrawn after complaints have been filed with DOVVSU.

Keywords: Defilement, DOVVSU, Children, Access to Reproductive Justice