Also known as: DOVSU
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit
Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… The Ministry’s team also visited the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service at Madina, where officers handling the case briefed them on ongoing investigations. …
Gender Ministry monitors North Legon child abuse case, says victim is responding to treatmentJoy Online
… Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Asare-Bediako, Central Regional Director of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), said domestic abuse cut across all social classes, genders, and backgrounds. …
Cape Coast Deaf students trained on technology-facilitated gender-based violenceGender Data Ghana has called for the abolition of the Ghana Education Service policy that permits internal investigation of abuse allegations and transfer of accused staff to other communities, arguing it conflicts with child protection laws and the Constitution.
26 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Gender Data Ghana has called for the abolition of the Ghana Education Service policy that permits internal investigation of abuse allegations and transfer of accused staff to other communities, arguing it conflicts with child protection laws and the Constitution.
26 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Education Service's Eastern Regional Directorate marked International Day of the Girl by calling for increased investment in girls' rights and efforts to end child marriage. Regional officials stressed that no girl under 18 should be forced into marriage, and urged parents, teachers and community leaders to support girls' education and create safe learning environments.
25 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni reports that suspended headmaster Zakaria Abdulai is moving freely following allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, having been granted self-recognisance bail by police. According to Awuni, police reportedly attempted to settle the matter privately with the father of one alleged victim, who refused.
24 October 2026 · Joy Online →
A second complainant in an alleged sexual abuse case involving Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai is facing pressure to drop her complaint, after the first of two former complainants has withdrawn her case. Police sources and the complainant's father report that a traditional ruler in the Obuasi area intervened and asked the family to settle the matter amicably.
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
A second complainant in an alleged sexual abuse case against Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai is reportedly facing pressure to withdraw her complaint, after police confirmed the first of two former complainants has already withdrawn. The father of the second complainant alleged that a traditional ruler in the Obuasi area intervened and asked the family to settle the matter outside court.
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Central East Regional Police arrested Kingsley Ozor, 40, and Jeffery Otaigbe, 19, following the death of 11-year-old Blessing Innocent at Gomoa Buduburam. According to police, Otaigbe allegedly lured the girl into an uncompleted building and sexually assaulted her; he confessed and led police to where the body was hidden.
23 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Police in Ghana's Central Region have arrested Kingsley Ozor, 40, and his 19-year-old apprentice Jeffery Otaigbe in connection with the death of 11-year-old Blessing Innocent at Gomoa Buduburam. The girl was allegedly sexually abused before her body was discovered hidden under shrubs on October 17.
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Centre for Social Justice has called for an independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, with the headmaster reportedly implicated. The organisation is demanding protection for affected students, accountability for officials who may have mishandled complaints, and reforms to safeguarding systems in secondary schools.
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has forwarded a rape case involving Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Zakaria Abdulai to the Attorney General's Office for study and advice. A 20-year-old Form Two student alleged that the headmaster forcibly had sexual intercourse with her at his official bungalow on July 25, 2026, after asking her to run an errand; police investigations have been completed.
23 October 2026 · Daily Guide →
Ghana Police have forwarded a docket to the Attorney-General's Office following investigations into an alleged rape case involving Zakaria Abdulai, Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School. A 20-year-old Form Two student alleged that the headmaster forcibly had sexual intercourse with her at his official bungalow on the school campus on July 25, 2026.
21 October 2026 · The Chronicle →
A Form Two student at Obuasi Senior High Technical School has alleged that headmaster Zakaria Abdulai raped her on July 25, 2026, at his official residence on campus and gave her GH¢100 to keep quiet. Police investigations include medical examination, scene reconstruction, and witness statements; the case has been forwarded to the Attorney-General's Office for advice.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Following a sexual abuse scandal at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, a communication and safeguarding expert has called for Ghana to establish a public sex offenders register, conduct independent investigations into abuse allegations, and end the practice of quietly transferring teachers accused of sexual misconduct to other schools.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP Director of Communications Dennis Miracles Aboagye has criticised Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang for not publicly commenting on allegations of sexual misconduct involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, saying her silence is disappointing given expectations that she would advocate for girls' safety and welfare.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor in Accra. The abuse occurred between July and August 2026 and came to light after the accused's granddaughter witnessed the abuse and reported it to family members.
13 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
An 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, has been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a nine-year-old girl at Ofankor. The girl's mother discovered bloodstains on her daughter's clothing in August 2026, leading the child to disclose repeated sexual abuse occurring between July and August 2026.
12 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Harold Norman, husband of actress and fashionista Nana Akua, failed to appear in court on October 7, 2026, after being admitted to hospital. He faces allegations of subjecting his wife to physical, emotional and economic abuse; his lawyer informed police of the hospitalization and investigators say they will ensure he is arraigned upon discharge.
11 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Executive Secretary of the African Women Lawyers Association Marian Darlington says fear of retaliation, doubts about police protection, and lack of support prevent victims of domestic abuse from reporting to authorities. Victims fear that reporting could expose them to further harm, particularly if they believe perpetrators have influence to evade justice.
9 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Gospel musician Ohemaa Mercy has announced plans to release a memoir detailing her experiences with marital abuse, saying the book will capture painful experiences she and others have endured while God sustained them. Her disclosure comes amid a domestic violence case involving fashion influencer Nana Akua Addo and her husband, with Ohemaa Mercy noting she rarely discusses her private life because of her calling and the value of maturity.
8 October 2026 · Daily Guide →
Harold Norman, arrested in a domestic abuse case involving his wife Nana Akua, was unable to appear before court on October 7, 2026, because he had been admitted to hospital. Police investigators visited the hospital to verify the admission and said they will arraign him immediately upon his discharge.
7 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana Police says it will arraign Harold Norman immediately after his hospital discharge in connection with domestic abuse allegations involving his wife, fashion icon Nana Akua. Ms Adobea petitioned police in August, alleging physical, emotional and economic abuse.
7 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Police have arrested two suspects—a woman and a man who posed as a soldier—in connection with the death of Kwame Nkrumah Circle phone dealer Nana Yaw Kyere. Kyere went missing after travelling to Teshie and was found dead on September 24, 2026; the case is being handled by Manet Police Station.
25 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
Teenage pregnancies in Adaklu increased from 109 in 2024 to 120 in 2025, with child protection advocates linking the rise to gaps in parent-child communication, parental neglect, and poverty. A 2021 baseline study found that 87.5 per cent of teenagers had never discussed sexual issues with their fathers.
18 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Commentary examines Ghana's Domestic Violence Act and related support structures, questioning whether survivors can afford to access the legal protections and services available to them, including DOVVSU, courts, and the One-Stop Centre in Accra.
14 September 2026 · Joy Online →
A 12-year-old girl was severely beaten by her stepmother with a metal key and knife for taking money and a key, an act that resulted in a four-month prison sentence. The incident reflects a broader pattern: 94 per cent of children aged 1 to 14 in Ghana experience some form of physical punishment or psychological aggression, and Ghana ranks first globally in this statistic.
26 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations has condemned Bolgatanga Girls' Senior High School's disciplinary action against a 14-year-old autistic student allegedly sexually abused by two school watchmen, calling it "institutional betrayal" and demanding reversal of all sanctions. The GFD argues that a child cannot be guilty of her own abuse and should have been treated as requiring protection rather than as a perpetrator.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called for an immediate review of Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School's decision to withdraw boarding status for one academic year from a 14-year-old student who was allegedly sexually abused by two security personnel on school premises. Eduwatch said the student should not face disciplinary or educational consequences for alleged sexual conduct involving adults, and the two security personnel have been arrested and are expected to face criminal charges.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council and the United Nations Population Fund trained 120 parents in the Birim North and Kwahu West districts on adolescent sexual and reproductive health, under the Adolescent Girls Programme. The training aims to help parents guide their children through adolescence and continue conversations about the challenges adolescents face.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Perfector of Sentiments Foundation has raised concerns over student cohabitation and sexual harassment at Ghana's public universities, warning these practices could undermine safe learning environments. The organisation's study of five public universities—University of Ghana, University of Education Winneba, University of Cape Coast, KNUST, and UDS—found cohabitation particularly prevalent at University of Education Winneba and University of Cape Coast, noting it can contribute to domestic conflicts and escalate into abuse.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court has sentenced Nicholas Adjarlolo, 23, a commercial tricycle rider, to seven years' imprisonment for defiling a 13-year-old Junior High School student at Sawer, Somanya. The victim was found with the accused at his residence after her mother reported her missing; medical examination confirmed sexual activity, and the accused admitted to intercourse with the minor.
2 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court has sentenced 23-year-old Nicholas Adjarlolo, a commercial tricycle rider, to seven years' imprisonment for defiling a 13-year-old Junior High School student at Sawer, near Somanya. He was convicted under Section 101(2) of the Criminal Offences Act for defilement of a female under 16 years.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →