In a move that has left the nation buzzing, Ghana’s Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dennis Fiakpui, has boldly announced that refusing your partner sex could land you in jail. Yes, you read that right,denying your spouse intimacy is now being touted as emotional abuse under Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act 732 of 2007.

During a headline-grabbing interview with the Ghana News Agency, ACP Fiakpui, who serves as the Oti Regional Deputy Commander, didn’t mince words. He claimed that if you deliberately withhold sex from your partner, you could be facing criminal charges and up to two years behind bars. The law, he insists, doesn’t care about your gender,men and women are both on the hook.

“If your husbands refuse to eat your food and make you unhappy and cause you emotional pain, you can also report it to the police,” Fiakpui declared, referencing the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU). He went on to say that even coming home late or causing emotional pain could be grounds for a police report. Apparently, the law is ready to step into your bedroom and your kitchen.

But it doesn’t stop there. The police official urged women to report their husbands for refusing sex,and, in a twist, said men should do the same if their wives turn them down. “Women who refuse to give sex to their husbands should equally be reported,” he said, making it clear that no one is safe from this new interpretation of the law.

Unsurprisingly, Fiakpui’s comments have set off a firestorm of debate. Some are cheering the move as a win for emotional well-being, while others are worried about the law being misused or taken out of context. Is this really about protecting people, or is it an overreach into the most private parts of marriage?

Legal experts point out that the Domestic Violence Act covers all kinds of abuse,physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional. The law’s definition of emotional abuse is so broad that almost anything making someone “unhappy” or “miserable” could count. Now, even saying “not tonight” could be a criminal offense if your partner claims emotional distress.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups are urging caution, suggesting that couples try counseling before running to the police. But with the police actively encouraging reports of denied sex, it’s clear that the authorities are ready to get involved in your relationship drama.

As the Ghana Police Service continues its public education campaign, one thing is certain: the line between private life and criminal law in Ghana just got a whole lot blurrier. Will this really protect people, or just create more problems? Only time will tell, but for now, couples across the country are on high alert.