Ho, Jan. 20, GNA - The number of child defilement cases recorded in the Volta region dropped from 122 in 2007 to 93 in 2008. Reported rape cases also declined from 44 in 2007 to 26 in 2008, Ms Rita Narh, Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police told the Ghana News agency in an interview on Tuesday.

She said two cases of child-trafficking and five cases of child stealing were recorded by the Unit last year. There were no reported cases of child labour and child kidnapping. Ms Narh said generally, cases of domestic violence in the region had declined to single digits attributing the improvement to the efforts of stakeholders especially the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

She however said a lot more needed to be done in addressing the problem of child maintenance which had continued to be high. "It is about 60 to 70 per cent of all reported cases and we all need to help address that," Ms Narh said.

She said more teenage girls in the region were getting pregnant and were unable to identify the men responsible for pregnancy posing difficult challenges in child maintenance. Ms Narh blamed the situation on irresponsible parenting and poverty and called on the NCCE and the Department of Social Welfare to work harder to help resolve the situation.