By Our Correspondent
The Ghana Police Service has issued a warning to married couples, stating that persistently denying sexual relations to a spouse could be classified as emotional abuse under Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732). Offenders may face up to two years imprisonment if a court finds them guilty.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Dennis Fiakpui, Oti Regional Deputy Commander, said that the law applies equally to men and women, making it clear that husbands who withhold sex from their wives can be reported and prosecuted just like wives who deny their husbands.
Fiakpui explained that the Domestic Violence Act recognizes behaviors that cause emotional distress within intimate relationships as abuse. He urged victims to report cases to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit rather than suffer in silence.
The police also noted that emotional abuse may take other forms, including withholding affection, refusing to eat a partner’s food, or consistently causing emotional harm. Fiakpui encouraged spouses to take legal action whenever they experience such abuse, reminding that marriage does not give anyone the right to emotionally harm their partner.
The warning highlights Ghana’s commitment to addressing marital abuse and protecting the emotional well-being of citizens, emphasizing that the law upholds respect, consent, and care in marriage.
