Court orders government to create domestic violence support fund

Abu Mubarik 23:19 - 17 March 2017

The Human Rights division of the High Court stayed the enforcement of the order for six months to allow the government fiscal space to factor it in the budget.

A court in Accra has ordered the government to create a fund to support domestic violence victims.

The judgement came a day after parliament had approved President Akufo-Addo's first budget. Parliament will on Tuesday, March 21 begin debate on the appropriation bill.

The presiding judge, Justice Anthony Yeboah, said the case borders on the fundamental human rights of citizens and public interest.

The ruling was as a result of a case filed by a private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, praying the court to direct the government to fully comply with the domestic violence act passed a decade ago.

He argued that section 8(3) of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), mandates the State to provide free medical care for victims of domestic violence.

He added that section 29 of the same (Act 732) demands that a domestic violence support fund is set up or established to provide basic material support for victims of domestic violence and to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of domestic violence.