“Request Birth Certificates Before Starting Relationships” – DOVVSU Warns Men

The Central North Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), ASP Judith Sedameh, has urged men to demand proof of age such as birth certificates or weighing cards before entering into romantic relationships with young girls.

Speaking in an interview with Rich FM, ASP Sedameh emphasized that ignorance of a girl’s age is no excuse under the law. She explained that many girls under the legal age of consent (16 years) may have fully developed physical features that could mislead men. However, engaging in sexual activity with minors remains a criminal offence, punishable by 7 to 25 years of imprisonment.

Her advice comes in response to rising cases of defilement in the Central North Region, where several men have claimed to be unaware of the actual ages of the girls involved due to their mature appearances.

ASP Sedameh also appealed to the government and judicial authorities to establish a Circuit Court in Assin Fosu. She noted that the current absence of a Circuit Court in the municipality forces police officers and victims to travel long distances to Assin Darmang for defilement cases, which is both costly and time-consuming. She further added that the region faces a shortage of police personnel, placing additional strain on law enforcement efforts.