Denying spouse sex is emotional abuse- Ghana Police
A senior officer of the Ghana Police Service has warned that deliberately denying a spouse sexual relations could constitute emotional abuse under Ghana’s domestic violence laws and may attract a prison sentence.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dennis Fiakpui, made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency today.
Fiakpui, who serves as the Oti Regional Deputy Police Commander, said the Domestic Violence Act 732 of 2007 recognises certain conduct within marriage and intimate relationships as emotional abuse.
He stated that a spouse who intentionally withholds sex in a way that causes emotional distress to their partner may face legal consequences if a complaint is lodged and the allegation is proven in court.
“Denying your partner sex can amount to emotional abuse,” Fiakpui said, noting that women who refuse their husbands sexual relations could be charged and, upon conviction, face up to two years’ imprisonment.
He, however, stressed that the law applies equally to both genders, adding that husbands who deny their wives sex could also be reported and investigated under the same legal provisions.
Fiakpui further explained that other actions capable of causing emotional pain within marriage could also form the basis of a complaint to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).
He cited examples such as a husband persistently refusing to eat his wife’s food, habitually returning home late, or engaging in behaviour that causes emotional distress.
He urged individuals experiencing emotional abuse in their marriages to seek help from the appropriate authorities rather than suffer in silence.
