Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Patrick Adusei Sarpong, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, has called for the elimination of traditions and cultures that contribute to the discrimination of women.

ACP Sarpong observed that discrimination against women results in physical, social and mental harm on their development.

ACP Sarpong made the call at the opening of a three-day training of trainers' (TOT) workshop for personnel of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service at Abesim near Sunyani.

The workshop was attended by 25 selected participants on Sexual Gender Base Violence (SGBV) issues in the region, in order to train other personnel who have not benefited from the capacity building course, and to also interact with police personnel working in the various DOVVSU/CID offices.

It was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in conjunction with the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council.

ACP Sarpong said cases of (SGBV) in the Region had assumed an alarming proportion, and therefore demanded attention, since victims of violence suffer long-term mental consequences such as depression, suicide and post-trauma.

He said violence that involved sexual assault may result in sexually-transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, abortion and other associated complications, with long effects on victims.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joseph Kwame Apoya, Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU, stated that in spite of efforts being made to fight SGBV and domestic violence, recent events nationwide indicate that cases keep on increasing, adding that available statistics of 6,601 in the region from 2009 to 2014, indicate that domestic violence cases have tremendously increased.

He urged the general public to join hands with DOVVSU in the fight against domestic violence, which affects mostly women and children.

DSP Apoya entreated personnel to come out with innovative ways after the programme, to be able to handle domestic violence cases effectively.