DOVVSU rearrests guardian for abusing 7-year-old girl

The Nima Division of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) has rearrested a 24-year-old guardian, Ayisha Zakaria, for allegedly burning the private part of a seven-year-old girl under her care.

The guardian of the victim was rearrested on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after being released from custody following the withdrawal of the case by the complainant, Sarki Musah Umar.

Her initial release sparked public outrage on social media after disturbing footage of the alleged abuse surfaced online, prompting swift police action.

According to eyewitnesses, the suspect, who resides in Mamobi in the Ayawaso North Municipality, allegedly heated a metal object, believed to be a spoon, and pressed it against the victim’s private part as punishment for bedwetting.

The victim’s injuries were first noticed by school authorities, who discreetly followed up and later reported the case to DOVVSU.

This led to the suspect’s initial arrest last Thursday.

However, she was released on Monday after the complainant withdrew the case, reportedly under pressure from family and community leaders.

Explaining his decision in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Umar said financial constraints had forced him to step back from pursuing the case.

“Financially, I was incapable because I was the only one spending money from going to the hospital to the police station,” he noted.

His withdrawal drew widespread condemnation from the public, child rights advocates, and faith leaders, who described the incident as a gross failure of community responsibility.

During a lecture at the Hamburg Mosque in Mamobi, Imam Abdul Razak Iddriss called for national intervention and justice for the victim.

“No matter how poor you are, it is better to have your children closer to you and cater for them. Only a few children who grow up with guardians excel in life,” he said, criticising both the police and community leaders for their handling of the matter.

The Imam disclosed that GHS2,000 had been raised to support the victim’s medical treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where she is receiving care.

Investigations are ongoing to establish the full facts of the case and ensure that justice is served.