Domestic Violence

The main topic for the research is domestic violence with women and children as the visible victims; the perpetrators, and the bystanders in the community are the key players. The interviewees are Catholic couples from the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana and now living in Chicago. Their experiences (Chapter 1) based on scientific analysis with statistical figures enriched the research. The Ghanaian culture (Chapter 2) is good but at the same time has certain aspects that are abusive to many in their own families. The “culture of silence” is thus entrenched in the very culture.

Komonchak, Cozzens, the African Synod, the Ghana Bishops’ Conference, and other writers on the Catholic Church (Chapter 3) raised very interesting but crucial issues for consideration to bring about healthy church life and overall positive change in Ghana as a whole and the Brong Ahafo Region in particular. The pastoral response (Chapter 5) has available local resources for the victim, the perpetrator, family, church, community/bystanders, and the nation/Ghana. The outcome of the above engagement with my audience calls for a new praxis that is positive and transformative for societal growth.