The Director of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Owusuwaa Kyeremeh, is urging persons with disabilities who have suffered abuse to seek free care and assistance at DOVVSU’s One-Stop Centre in Accra.
Her call came during a one-day sensitisation forum organised by the Voices of Women and Children with Disabilities in Ghana (VOWACGhana).
The DOVVSU One-Stop Centre, located at the Police Headquarters in Accra, offers a range of services for vulnerable victims of domestic violence, including persons with disabilities.
The center houses a police station, a clinic equipped with laboratories, psychologists and counselors, temporary accommodation for victims, a district and circuit court, and lawyers providing free legal aid. All services at the center are provided free of charge.
According to ACP Owusuwaa Kyeremeh, the One-Stop Centre was established to provide support for vulnerable victims, particularly those who lack the financial means to access medical examinations necessary for investigations and prosecution of their abusers.
She encouraged persons with disabilities, especially those in the Accra area, to contact the center for assistance. The toll-free number to contact the DOVVSU One-Stop Centre is 0800-000900, and a WhatsApp number is 0551-00 00 900.
ACP Owusuwaa also announced plans to build similar facilities in Kumasi and Sunyani to expand access to these vital services.
The sensitisation forum, organised by VOWACGhana, focused on advocating for the government to ratify the African Disability Protocol and to include the specific needs and concerns of women and children with disabilities in Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act, Act 732.
ACP Owusuwaa Kyeremeh acknowledged that the current Domestic Violence Act lacks specific provisions to address the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
Following discussions at the forum, ACP Owusuwaa pledged to enhance DOVVSU’s understanding of disability issues and improve its services for this population.
To this end, she promised to:
• Advocate for the inclusion of disability awareness training in DOVVSU training programmes. • Push for representatives of the disability community at their DOVVSU offices to provide technical assistance on issues related to persons with disabilities. • Advocate for the employment of sign language interpreters at DOVVSU offices to facilitate communication with deaf individuals. • Advocate for the employment of braille readers and disability experts.
ACP Owusuwaa emphasised the importance of close collaboration with the disability community to effectively address their unique needs, stating that DOVVSU is committed to improving its services and ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to justice and support.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
