Chief Supt Jessie Borquaye recounts her time as head of DOVVSU

There is often a crowd of people at the offices of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in Accra.

Majority of the complainants who sit in long queues are women, even though more men now put shyness aside and come up with cases of their wives bashing them.

The complainants have different facial expressions of disappointment and patiently wait to have their turn to tell their stories. Others visit the unit with fractures and injuries of various kinds.

Chief Superintendent Jessie Borquaye is the Accra Regional coordinator of DOVVSU. The 59 year-old Chief Supt. was born at Adoagyiri at Nsawam in the Eastern Region to the late Nii Ahele Nunoo 11, Abola Mantse in Accra who is also a former Commissioner of Police and Madam Marian Okaitei.

She had primary education at Royal Primary School in Accra, St. Monica’s Middle School in Ashanti Mampong and St. John Grammar in Accra. She joined the Ghana Police Service in 1966 through her father’s influence and assumed office as Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU in 2006.

Chief Supt. Borquaye told me, “I passed out as a constable class two and rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in 1992.” As Regional Coordinator, Chief Supt. Jessie Borquaye is responsible for general administration of the unit, in addition to mediation, interrogation and counseling.

She recalled although there were challenges at the unit when she assumed office, there have been successes in a spirit of unity.

These include the opening of DOVVSU units /desks in some districts such as Madina, while plans are underway to open desks at La, Amasaman and Tesano.
“By the grace of God, under my leadership the various DOVVSU desks in Accra have been restructured. More personnel have been posted to beef up strength in order to ease the pressure at the regional office,” she stated.

The most recent improvement is the ‘child helpline’ instituted through the assistance of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. According to her, people from countrywide call to lodge complaints after which referrals are made to the appropriate quarters such as Social Welfare and Legal Aid Board.

Additionally, she said the public educational campaigns are being carried out through the media, at the market places, schools and churches to sensitize the public on domestic violence and what constitutes a crime. Like any institution, Chief Supt.

Borquaye said DOVVSU faces certain challenges with reference to late reporting of cases when a lot of evidence has been tempered with since it does not facilitate investigations.

“Majority of the public still think that domestic violence cases are family matters that can be settled at home. Also people try to influence cases by bringing in prominent persons. This is where I stand firm.”

She said during her tenure, she has observed that parents are not being responsible; leaving their children in the care of potential perpetrators. She called for a sound family system in Ghana which is a vital instrument for national growth and development.

“All citizens should be on board to fight domestic violence”, she appealed. Chief Superintendent Borquaye urged the men to continue to make judicious use of the unit by reporting cases as soon as possible.

Chief Supt. Jessie Borquaye is a staunch Christian, precisely Anglican. She is married with two children and reads books and listens to music during her leisure time.

As she retires from the Ghana Police Service next year, she advised the remaining officers, especially the women to be firm and work efficiently for the good of the country.

“I urge them to be abreast with the laws of the land, particularly the Domestic Violence Law which borders on their area of operation, so that peace can be guaranteed.”