Woman Assaulted by Brother over ‘Dirty Water’ in Wa

A 21-year-old woman, Amama (not her real name), was brutally beaten by her brother, Razak (not his real name), over a trivial matter of pouring dirty water in front of her door in Wa Municipality. The incident occurred on Monday, September 4, 2023, when Amama was cleaning the front view of her room and did not hear her brother’s questions because she was on a phone call. Her brother then attacked her with fists and kicks, injuring her hand. Amama’s sister-in-law intervened to stop the assault, but Razak returned to beat her again as soon as she left.

Amama reported the case to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service with the help of RUWA-Ghana, a non-governmental organization that works to end sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the Upper West Region. She also obtained a medical report from the hospital to support her police report. The medical examination fee of GHC300.00 was paid by a private citizen.

Razak, who is a tricycle rider, was arrested and taken to the police station. He admitted to beating his sister, claiming that he did so to correct her for being disrespectful. He also confessed that he had threatened to kill her or drive her out of their father’s house on several occasions. He said that the threat was only a scare tactic to make her more respectful.

However, Razak was released on bail on September 6, 2023, after his mother and the President of the Tricycle Riders Association of Wa pleaded with Amama to withdraw the case. Amama agreed to their plea and informed the DOVVSU officer in charge about her decision. Razak was made to sign an undertaking indicating that he would not commit such an act again.

RUWA-Ghana expressed concern over the prevalence of SGBV in the Upper West Region and the tendency of victims to withdraw their cases due to family and social pressure. The organization called for more awareness and action against SGBV and urged women and girls to report cases of violence to the authorities. RUWA-Ghana also commended Amama for showing some form of boldness by reporting her brother to the police, but regretted that she had to withdraw the case.

RUWA-Ghana regrets that poor victims are compelled to cough out GHC 300.00 examination fee, a burden which tends to discourage many victims from reporting assault cases. It calls on stakeholders to pressurize the government to come out with a clear policy on taking the burden away from victims.

The news story was written by Hudu Hafiz, Media and Communication Officer, RUWA-GHANA, Tamale, N/R, Ghana.