The Director of Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service has advised individuals in abusive marriages to file for a divorce.

Chief Superintendent Owusuwaa Kyeremeh said spouses should prioritise their safety and let go of the assertion that being divorced is shameful.

According to her, marriage does not determine an individuals worth, therefore, one should prioritise his or her wellbeing.

"People are thinking of what their friends will say. Anytime we get the opportunity we advise that, being divorced is not a shameful thing. Marriage doesn’t make or unmake you nor does it add to you. We should not just advise our daughters about marriage but rather on good marriage. There’s no assault in good marriage."

"You can be single. There are people on earth who are not married and have no child but he or she has made an impact. The full meaning of your life is not dependent on whether you are married or not."

She stressed on the need to evade an abusive marriage by stating that “Jesus Christ did a lot of things on earth but never got married".

Chief Superintendent Owusuwaa Kyeremeh made the comments on TV XYZ while speaking on the death of Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, who is alleged to have been in an abusive marriage.

"If it is true that she was abused in her marriage and didn't leave, she is now dead. She thought marriage was the ultimate but now she is dead," she said.

The musician, known for her hit song ‘Ekwueme’ died on Friday, April 8, at a hospital in Abuja.

In an interview with Vanguard Nigeria, the elder sister of the late gospel music artiste dismissed reports indicating that she died of cancer.

Favour Made told the newspaper her sister died as a result of a cluster of blood in her chest after she was kicked in the area by her husband, Mr Peter Nwachukwu.

“The husband, Mr Peter Nwachukwu hit her with his leg on the chest…she fell down and he took her to the hospital but he did not even tell us. It was her friend who lives in Ebonyi state that called her twin sister.”

According to Miss Made, Osinachi’s husband has been abusing her in their marriage before her untimely death.

“Before now, we told her to come out of the marriage, we told her that they are not divorcing, that it’s just separation. But she felt that God is against divorce,” Miss Made said.

The mother of the late gospel singer has also revealed that Osinachi left her marriage for over a year, and only returned after her husband came with pastors to beg.

She also mentioned that she could not see her grandchildren for eight years and was never allowed to come for Omugwo (traditional Igbo custom for postpartum care by the woman’s mother) when they were born.

According to her, Osinachi’s husband never allowed her family into their house until some pastors intervened.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Women Affairs Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen, has revealed Peter Nwachukwu had threatened his children not to whisper a word about the domestic violence happening in their home.

“When I came into the compound, I saw the children, four beautiful children; three boys, one girl. He (Peter) had told the children that they should not speak about the things that have been happening in the house. When I was asking questions, I saw that the children were not forthcoming. I excused everyone and said I wanted to have a one-on-one with the children.”

“I first spoke with the first son. I asked him, ‘Do you love your mother?’ He said, ‘Yes’. ‘Has your mummy taught you to tell lies?’ He said, ‘No’. I asked him if she is still alive and he said she is dead. I asked him, “Do you know that she is now your angel and she is now watching you?’ He said, ‘Yes’. ‘So, it will be very sad if you tell lies’.”