A senior officer of the Ghana Police Service has warned that persistent denial of sex within marriage may constitute emotional abuse under Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act 732 of 2007. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dennis Fiakpui, made the clarification while speaking with the Ghana News Agency.
Fiakpui explained that a spouse who deliberately withholds sex in a manner that causes emotional distress could face legal consequences if a complaint is lodged and the offence is proven. “Denying your partner sex can amount to emotional abuse,” he said, noting that offenders could face up to two years’ imprisonment.
He stressed that the law applies equally to men and women, adding that husbands who deny their wives sex could also be reported. He encouraged victims of emotional abuse in marriage to seek redress through lawful channels rather than endure such situations in silence.