The office is collaborating with the Domestic Violence Victims Suppport Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service to reach out to identifiable groupings, schools and religious organisations.At one of its sensitization programme at Tema Community Two, Chief Inspector Sabina Ama Blay of the Tema Regional DOVVSU Command, educated members of the Bakers Association of Tema on domestic violence and other related issues.

Chief Inspector Blay noted that domestic violence was a crime that should be reported and therefore urged both men and women in abusive relationship to report to the police while encouraging residents to also alert DOVVSU on abusive persons in their communities.

She also urged them not to shield defilement perpetrators for fear of stigmatization of the victim as it was a crime to have sexual intercourse with a girl aged below 16 years with or without their consent.

She implored parents to also educate their boys on the implications of having sexual relationships with minors as that could land them in jail for about seven to 25 years.

Chief Inspector Blay added that parents must not only monitor, educate and empower their girl child on sex related issues in a bid to avoid adolescent pregnancy but must also involve their boys as homosexuals and paedophiles were also molesting boys as well.

She advised parents to demand answers and enquire from their wards, both boys and girls who are not working, about where and how they came about with over the threshold sums of money and other materials possessions.

Ms Hajara Yemoh Anum, Head of the NCCE, Tema West Municipality, told the Ghana News Agency that it was part of her outfit's mandate to sensitize and engage residents on their civic rights and responsibilities as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Ms Anum said they thought it wise not to only use civic educators to achieve their objective but rather collaborate with other state agencies such as DOVVSU to educate residents and bring their services close to them.

She said it was about time residents were empowered to report domestic violence of all forms especially assualt, rape and defilement which were often swept under the carpet.

She also urged people who had been sensitized on such issues to be peer educators among their relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbours to help the NCCE achieve its aim of educating everyone on their civuc rights and responsibilities.

Madam Jane Brew, President of the Bakers Association of Tema, thanked the NCCE and DOVVSU for the education and promised to sensitize others on the issues.