Kumasi, March 26, GNA - Growing cases of incest, defilement and rape are fuelling teenage pregnancies in the Kumasi Metropolis, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Amoako, Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the Police Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), has said. The Unit between last December and February, this year, recorded 42 cases of child pregnancy resulting from these crimes. DSP Amoako was speaking at a day's training workshop on domestic violence reporting held for a section of the media in Kumasi on Friday.

It was organized by the Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation in Ghana, a civil society organization, under the theme: "Enhancing the capacity of frontline media personnel in responding to gender based violence." DSP Amoako said the situation should be a source of worry to society since child pregnancy could lead to criminal abortion with serious health implications. Added to this is the abrupt end to their education. He said it was important parents provided adequate protection and security for their children. He suggested a Fund be set up to help victims to seek medical care. Mrs Afia Serwaah Asare-Botwe, a Principal State Attorney, urged the media to be ethical and to be more sensitive, especially when reporting on defilement and rape cases. She said the media should assist victims to make formal report to the police to bring offenders to justice. Mr Adolf Awuku-Bekoe, Project Coordinator for the NGO, urged victims of domestic violence not to keep their ordeal to themselves and suffer the pain, but rather they should have the courage to report to the law enforcement agencies.