On domestic violence…
Section 1 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732) defines domestic violence to include any of the following acts within the context of a previous or existing relationship;
- an act under the Criminal Code 1960 (Act 29) which constitutes a threat or harm to a person under that Act
- specific acts, threats to commit, or acts likely to result in;
- Physical abuse,
- sexual abuse, namely the forceful engagement of another person in a sexual contact,
- economic abuse, namely the deprivation or threatened deprivation of economic or financial resources which a person is entitled to by law, the disposition or threatened disposition of moveable or immovable property in which another person has a material interest and hiding or hindering the use of property or damaging or destroying property in which another person has a material interest
- emotional, verbal or psychological abuse and harassment including sexual harassment and intimidation by inducing fear in another person; and
- behaviour or conduct that in any way harms or may harm another person, endangers the safety, health or well-being of another person, undermines another person’s privacy, integrity or security, or detracts or is likely to detract from another person’s dignity and worth as a human being.
A single act may amount to domestic violence. Similarly, a number of minor or trivial occurrences may amount to domestic violence when looked at as a whole. Also, anyone aware of domestic violence may lodge a complaint about it to the police.
A person found guilty of domestic violence, is liable to an imprisonment of not more than two years or to a fine of not more than five hundred penalty units (GHC6000.00)
Written by
Salamatu Haruna
Legal Officer, EmpowerHer