A man who drew nationwide outrage after he was filmed severely assaulting his wife is now languishing in police custody in Accra, as authorities move to prosecute him for one of the most disturbing domestic-violence incidents captured on video in recent years.
The suspect, identified as John Odartey Lamptey, was arrested at his home in Ofankor in the Ga East Municipality after a graphic video showing him repeatedly beating his naked wife spread rapidly across social media.
The footage, recorded by neighbours, triggered immediate public condemnation and prompted swift action from the Ghana Police Service.
Police sources say Lamptey’s siblings, Grace Kushie Lamptey and Louis Odartey Lamptey, were also arrested for allegedly attempting to confront a tenant believed to have filmed the incident.
Investigators say this amounted to an effort to intimidate a witness. The victim fled the house shortly before officers arrived and has not yet been located, though police say they are working to ensure her safety and provide medical and psychological support.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection condemned the assault, calling it “barbaric” and a stark reminder of the daily dangers many women face behind closed doors.
The ministry urged the police to follow through with a thorough investigation and called on the public to report domestic abuse promptly, stressing that the law provides clear protections and penalties.
The case has opened a wider debate about the effectiveness of Ghana’s domestic-violence protections and the role of social media in exposing abuse.
Advocates have praised the neighbours for recording the incident, arguing that without the video, the assault may never have come to light. Others have raised concerns about victim privacy and the psychological toll of having such intimate trauma circulated online.
Lamptey remains in custody as detectives prepare charges under the Domestic Violence Act and the Criminal Offences Act.
The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit is expected to lead the prosecution.
With the case now firmly in the public eye, attention has turned to how the justice system will handle the matter, and whether the outcome will reinforce Ghana’s commitment to protecting victims of domestic violence and holding perpetrators accountable.
