Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dennis Fiakpui, the Deputy Regional Commander of the Oti Region, has warned that intentionally withholding sex in a marriage could amount to a criminal offence under Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732).
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), ACP Fiakpui explained that when a spouse deliberately and repeatedly refuses sexual relations, it may be classified as emotional abuse under the law. He noted that such an offence carries a possible punishment of up to two years’ imprisonment if proven in court.
According to him, the law does not favour one gender over the other, stressing that both men and women can be held accountable if their actions cause emotional harm to their partners. He encouraged individuals who believe they are being emotionally abused through such behaviour to report the matter to the police for investigation and appropriate legal action.
ACP Fiakpui added that the Domestic Violence Act was designed to protect spouses from all forms of abuse within marriage, including emotional and psychological harm, and urged couples to seek lawful and constructive ways to address marital issues rather than allowing them to escalate.
