Gender Minister Otiko Djaba has spoken out on the disturbing video of a woman who was stripped, beaten and s*xually assaulted by a mob for allegedly stealing Ghc 1,100.
Speaking to 3Fm, the newly appointed Minister described the actions as ‘cruel and barbaric’ and said those actions do not represent Ghanaian culture in anyway.
“I’m appalled at the video that I saw; to think that Ghana is going to be 60years in a matter of days and a woman has been treated with such contempt and indignity in this day and age really beats my understanding. I really want to condemn this barbaric and cruel act that took away the dignity and self-esteem of this young lady.” she said.
“In this country we live by the rule of law. If anyone commits a crime, it’s not for any vigilante to decide how they’ll judge; we believe per the law that you are innocent until proven guilty. Can you imagine everybody had to take matters into their own hands?”
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Otiko continued that even if the allegation of having stolen against the woman was true, it was uncalled for the crowd to mete out the treatment they did was to her.
“According to the narration she is alleged to have stolen some amount of money, but that’s an allegation. Even if it were true, it’s not up to anybody to pronounce judgment in the dehumanizing way she was treated. The beating, prodding and humiliation she suffered is not like the Ghanaian society that I know. Ghanaians are loving and respectful to our mothers and sisters and women are the most vulnerable so this is an atrocity against womankind.
“And all these men kicking her private parts with their shoes and hands and all the things that were done to her is degrading to say the least. “It’s unacceptable and wrong that society is gradually becoming intolerant and that’s a worrying trend.”
According to the minister, her ministry is liaising with the police to attempt to discover the perpetrators of the cowardly attacks and bring them to justice.