The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has warned that violence against women and children will not be tolerated, following the circulation of videos and images purportedly involving actress and socialite Nana Akua Addo and her child.
The footage circulating widely on social media, including images which appear to show Nana Akua Addo with visible injuries and separate footage purportedly showing a child being subjected to physical violence.
While the full circumstances surrounding the footage are yet to be established, the Ministry said it was deeply concerned by the reports and stressed that violence in all its forms must not be normalised, excused or tolerated.
“Such acts have no place in our society,” the Ministry said in a statement, warning that persons who subject others to violence and abuse will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
The Ministry said no relationship, domestic circumstance, disagreement or perceived provocation could justify violence or abuse.
According to the Ministry, it is working with the appropriate institutions to establish the facts surrounding the reported incidents and determine the necessary interventions.
It said it was closely following developments and taking steps to ascertain the wellbeing and safety of the persons involved.
The Ministry also used the development to encourage women and others experiencing domestic, gender-based or other forms of violence not to suffer in silence or accept abuse as a normal part of any relationship.
It stressed that abuse is never the fault of the victim and urged victims, as well as anyone with credible information about a person at risk, to report to the nearest police station or Social Welfare office.
The Ministry’s intervention comes as the videos continue to generate widespread discussion online, with Nana Akua Addo’s lawyers separately stating that the footage was leaked without her knowledge or consent.
Her lawyers have appealed to media houses and the public to refrain from publishing or circulating the videos, particularly footage involving her minor children.
