According to the Ghana Review,

A branch of the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service has been established in the Brong Ahafo Region with its offices located at the Regional Police Headquarters, Sunyani ... due to the increasing wave of crime of violence against women and children. The Unit is mandated to handle domestic violence, which include [s] sexual offences of rape, indecent assault, female genital mutilation (FGM), economic deprivation through denial of living allowance and child labour (18 Jan. 2002).

Country Reports 2001 states that

[WAJU] handles cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, and juvenile offenses. Located in Accra and Kumasi, the WAJU works closely with the Department of Social Welfare, FIDA, and the Legal Aid Board. During the year, the Accra Branch of this unit recorded 658 cases, including 204 defilement cases, 58 rapes, 5 cases of incest, 28 indecent assaults, 232 instances of assault and wife battery, and 9 abductions.... The GNCC [Ghana National Commission on Children] has provided the WAJU with office equipment. The GNCC also has administered training programs for law enforcement and judicial officials around the country to familiarize them with the Children's Act and other pertinent child labor legislation (Mar. 2002).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. March 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/af/8379.htm [Accessed 8 Mar. 2002]

Ghana Review [Accra]. 18 January 2002. "Police Women and Juvenile Unit for B/A." http://www.mclglobal.com/History/Jan2002/18a2002/18a2n.html [Accessed 11 Mar. 2000]

Africa Research Bulletin.

Keesing's Record of World Events.

IRB Databases.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre. Country File.

Internet sites including:

All Africa News

Concerned Parents Association

Fawe Ghana Chapter

Search engines including:

Dogpile