On February 14, 2023, the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace, and Security in Ghana
(WGWYPS-GH) paid a working visit to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU)
of the Ghana Police. The visit was to acquaint the group with the services of the facility and also
to discuss potential areas of collaboration between DOVVSU and the WGWYPS-GH.
ACP Owusuwaa Kyeremeh, Director of DOVVSU, welcomed the group to the facility and
expressed appreciation for the laudable objective of the visit, which was part of collaborative
efforts of civil society to partner with the center, particularly in advocating for the elimination of
Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) across the country. ACP Kyeremeh gave a brief
overview of the Center and explained that the Center is tagged 'one-stop' because it has all the
facilities needed to respond to cases of SGBV in a safe and secured environment by trained
professionals including a Clinical Psychologist, who work in various capacities to assist survivors.
According to her, the mission of DOVVSU one-stop Centre is to be a source of hope for survivors
and that inspired the motto of the Centre as "Survivors Centre of Hope!"
ACP Owusuwaa Kyeremeh thereafter led the Group on tour
of the Ultra-Modern Centre commissioned on January 11, 2022. The Centre boasts of three spacious, and furnished shelters for survivors, a reading and playroom for kids, as well as an entertainment room where survivors can watch TV, play board games, and read books. It has private consultation rooms, which allows survivors to be interviewed in a confidential, safe space. There is also a
helpline, child protection desk, a clinic, circuit and civil court, among others.
At the end of the visit, the Group commended DOVVSU for their excellent work and urged all
stakeholders and actors of Women, Peace and Security to join hands to create awareness and
sensitize the public on the functions of the Center and to work together to eliminate all forms of
violence against women. The WGWYPS is established by the United Nations Office in the Sahel
and West Africa (UNOWAS) to promote the active participation of Women and Youth in the Peace
and Security sector at National and international levels. Membership of the Group comprised
civil society organizations, FBOs, CBOs, security sector, independent consultants, ministries etc