Domestic violence law deters husbands from hitting their wives in Ghana
Domestic violence law deters husbands from hitting their wives in Ghana
Law to deter domestic violence in Ghana has created awareness among women and stopped many a male hand from rising to beat their wives.
Ghana : There is a proverb that means something like this: A husband who does not beat his wife is like a hen-pecked chicken. In other words, it seems culturally acceptable in several parts of Africa – and in various other parts of the world – for a man to beat his wife. In Ghana, wife beating was such a common occurrence that it was regarded as a “no case”. Report to your mother that your husband beat you, and she would tell you to accept correction quietly. Report to a religious leader and you will be told, “Wives, submit to your husbands” (Colossians 3 of the Holy Bible). Report to the police, and they simply would not know what to do because even the Criminal Code of Ghana (Section 42g) classified marriage as one of the conditions under which a person cannot be said to have exacted violence on a partner, just like one wrestler in a match cannot be said to have exacted violence on his wrestling partner.
Domestic violence occurs widely in Ghana. It cuts across all regions, religions, ethnic groups and economic situations. A research led by Coker Appiah and Cusack in 1999 brought out the different dimensions of domestic violence that occurs in Ghana. Four kinds of domestic violence were clearly identified. These are physical violence, financial oppression, psychological violence, and sexual violence. It is noteworthy that domestic violence involves married couples as well as other individuals that live within the household setting. This includes servants (house-helps), children, ageing persons and persons with disability. In all these cases, women are the most vulnerable.
Several cases of domestic violence were reported by the media in Ghana. There was the case of Madam Aya whose common-law husband had butchered her with a machete for requesting him to formalize their union. Madam Aya survived but could no longer use her limbs effectively. Another bizarre case was that of a man who shot and killed his wife for using the meat he had brought home to make dinner without his prior approval. A third case was that of a man who disfigured the face of his girlfriend with concentrated acid on suspicion that his girlfriend was seeing another man.
Women’s rights advocates were enraged. Advocacy efforts began towards formulation of the Domestic Violence Bill, which was carefully drafted by the Attorney General’s Department in 2002. The original bill sought the repeal of Section 42g of Ghana’s Criminal Code, which made marriage one of the situations in which a party cannot be said to have exacted violence on his or her partner. This was interpreted by several persons, including some Members of Parliament, that women wanted to take part in the decision of when to have sexual relations with their partners. This alone made most of the Parliamentarians (which was 89% male) to resist consideration of this “obnoxious” bill. Their resistance stemmed from the socio-cultural practice that accepts male dominance in all situations, including in sexual matters. Somehow, the issue of sexual violence dominated the entire debate about the bill for years, while the media churned out gory stories of domestic violence.
Well-meaning advocates formed the Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation. There was community-based education, demonstrations, prayer sessions and various activities towards passage of this important bill. During the third hearing of the bill in Parliament, several women sat in the public gallery and listened to the debate. All the women wore red dresses because wearing red arm bands is not accepted in Parliament; yet no-one could ask the women to strip out of their red clothes before entering the public gallery of Parliament House. The women just sat in the gallery and listened – no clapping or catcalling. Dissatisfied with the arguments, they walked out of the gallery ensemble. This was a statement loud enough to be heard by the nation.
The original Domestic Violence Bill was amended and placed before Parliament again. Finally, it was passed into law. Craftily, the Domestic Violence Law still repealed Section 42g of the Criminal Code. Domestic violence still occurs in the country, no doubt. Yet, it has deterred many husbands from battering their wives and possibly saved many lives. Education on the law is continuing to encourage women to report cases of domestic violence and have perpetrators punished deservedly.
Domestic violence law deters husbands from hitting their wives in Ghana
Law to deter domestic violence in Ghana has created awareness among women and stopped many a male hand from rising to beat their wives.
Patience Dappah
January 06, 2010
Ghana : There is a proverb that means something like this: A husband who does not beat his wife is like a hen-pecked chicken. In other words, it seems culturally acceptable in several parts of Africa – and in various other parts of the world – for a man to beat his wife. In Ghana, wife beating was such a common occurrence that it was regarded as a “no case”. Report to your mother that your husband beat you, and she would tell you to accept correction quietly. Report to a religious leader and you will be told, “Wives, submit to your husbands” (Colossians 3 of the Holy Bible). Report to the police, and they simply would not know what to do because even the Criminal Code of Ghana (Section 42g) classified marriage as one of the conditions under which a person cannot be said to have exacted violence on a partner, just like one wrestler in a match cannot be said to have exacted violence on his wrestling partner.
Domestic violence occurs widely in Ghana. It cuts across all regions, religions, ethnic groups and economic situations. A research led by Coker Appiah and Cusack in 1999 brought out the different dimensions of domestic violence that occurs in Ghana. Four kinds of domestic violence were clearly identified. These are physical violence, financial oppression, psychological violence, and sexual violence. It is noteworthy that domestic violence involves married couples as well as other individuals that live within the household setting. This includes servants (house-helps), children, ageing persons and persons with disability. In all these cases, women are the most vulnerable.
Several cases of domestic violence were reported by the media in Ghana. There was the case of Madam Aya whose common-law husband had butchered her with a machete for requesting him to formalize their union. Madam Aya survived but could no longer use her limbs effectively. Another bizarre case was that of a man who shot and killed his wife for using the meat he had brought home to make dinner without his prior approval. A third case was that of a man who disfigured the face of his girlfriend with concentrated acid on suspicion that his girlfriend was seeing another man.
Women’s rights advocates were enraged. Advocacy efforts began towards formulation of the Domestic Violence Bill, which was carefully drafted by the Attorney General’s Department in 2002. The original bill sought the repeal of Section 42g of Ghana’s Criminal Code, which made marriage one of the situations in which a party cannot be said to have exacted violence on his or her partner. This was interpreted by several persons, including some Members of Parliament, that women wanted to take part in the decision of when to have sexual relations with their partners. This alone made most of the Parliamentarians (which was 89% male) to resist consideration of this “obnoxious” bill. Their resistance stemmed from the socio-cultural practice that accepts male dominance in all situations, including in sexual matters. Somehow, the issue of sexual violence dominated the entire debate about the bill for years, while the media churned out gory stories of domestic violence.
Well-meaning advocates formed the Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation. There was community-based education, demonstrations, prayer sessions and various activities towards passage of this important bill. During the third hearing of the bill in Parliament, several women sat in the public gallery and listened to the debate. All the women wore red dresses because wearing red arm bands is not accepted in Parliament; yet no-one could ask the women to strip out of their red clothes before entering the public gallery of Parliament House. The women just sat in the gallery and listened – no clapping or catcalling. Dissatisfied with the arguments, they walked out of the gallery ensemble. This was a statement loud enough to be heard by the nation.
The original Domestic Violence Bill was amended and placed before Parliament again. Finally, it was passed into law. Craftily, the Domestic Violence Law still repealed Section 42g of the Criminal Code. Domestic violence still occurs in the country, no doubt. Yet, it has deterred many husbands from battering their wives and possibly saved many lives. Education on the law is continuing to encourage women to report cases of domestic violence and have perpetrators punished deservedly.
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