Police Chief Superintendent Laurencia Wilhelmina Akorli, Deputy Coordinating Director of Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), has urged the public to be bold and report any form of abuse they may suffer to the police.
They should not keep the ordeal to themselves and become traumatized whilst the offenders walked freely about and continued to prey on other people.
Making the call through the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Chief Supt Akorli expressed disapproval of the situation where victims agreed to out-of-court settlements of rape, sexual harassment and other violent attacks.
That, she said, was not helpful to efforts at providing protection, particularly for children, women and other vulnerable groups in the society.
She highlighted the need for abused victims to cooperate with the police for successful prosecution of their abusers, and criticized the non-cooperation of some of those abused, resulting in the delay of legal processes to bring the culprits to justice.
Chief Supt Akorli asked those abused to readily provide any vital information that would aid a speedy court trial and advised her colleague police officers to be diligent in their investigation, to help the victims to get justice.
She appealed to relatives, community and religious leaders to assist those abused to overcome the pain to live normal lives.