By PATRICK OWUSU PIMAMPIM ADASI
Executive Director – African Strategic Risk Research Group USA
Founder – ADASI SOCIAL ACTION PHILANTHROPIES
As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, Ghana stands at a crucial crossroads. The country’s progress in protecting women and girls is being challenged on two interconnected fronts: the enduring crisis of physical and domestic abuse, and the rapidly evolving threat of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). Conquering these forms of violence will require more than progressive legislation—it demands political commitment, judicial strength, adequate funding, and a transformative shift in cultural attitudes.
The Enduring Crisis: A Failure of Implementation
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a deeply rooted problem in Ghana. National statistics reveal the scale of this crisis. The 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) reported that 24.4% of Ghanaian women aged 15–49 had experienced intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence. The more recent GDHS 2022 report still shows alarmingly high levels, with 20.6% of women aged 15–49 experiencing physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence at the hands of a current or most recent partner.
Ghana’s Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), is a landmark law designed to criminalize all forms of domestic abuse. However, the effectiveness of this law continues to be undermined by major implementation failures, leaving a wide gap between legal promise and lived reality.
One of the most persistent issues is the low conviction rate for gender-based violence cases. Despite thousands of reports made each year to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, only about 10% of cases result in successful convictions. Weak investigations, inadequate evidence-gathering, and insufficient legal follow-through greatly diminish survivor confidence in the justice system.
The problem is compounded by socio-cultural practices that normalize abuse and protect perpetrators. Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms encourage silence, with many communities viewing domestic violence as a “private family matter.” Women often face stigma, victim-blaming, and pressure to avoid disgracing the family or breaking their marriage, forcing many survivors to endure abuse in silence. This cultural impunity sustains cycles of violence and shields offenders from accountability.
Additionally, Ghana’s well-intentioned Domestic Violence Act suffers from chronic underfunding. The legally mandated Victims of Domestic Violence Support Fund remains severely under-resourced, leaving DOVVSU constrained in delivering the critical services survivors need. State-run shelters are either inadequate or non-existent, forcing many victims to rely on overwhelmed charities or even spend nights in police stations. Without proper funding, essential psychosocial support and rehabilitation services remain out of reach for many survivors.
The law exists—but without decisive funding, strong institutions, and societal support, it is unable to deliver justice at the moment survivors need it most.
💻 The Digital Evolution of Abuse: Ghana Fights Back
As physical abuse continues, a new and more insidious form of violence has emerged: technology-facilitated gender-based violence. To address this, Ghana enacted the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), a transformational law that established the Cyber Security Authority (CSA). The CSA has a clear mandate to regulate cybersecurity activities and promote online protection for vulnerable groups including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
This legislative evolution acknowledges a critical truth: online abuse is not harmless or trivial—it is a serious violation of human rights that undermines women’s safety and limits their participation in public life.
Act 1038 specifically criminalizes several forms of digital abuse commonly targeted at women:
• Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images – Section 67
Punishable by fines up to GH₵240,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
• Sexual Extortion (Sextortion) – Section 66
Punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and/or fines up to GH₵120,000.
• Cyberstalking – Section 65
Punishable by fines, imprisonment up to five years, or both.
These penalties give DOVVSU and the CSA stronger legal tools to investigate and prosecute online abuses. The law also includes specific provisions for protecting children from sexual exploitation and online grooming.
Beyond legal enforcement, the CSA has embarked on public awareness campaigns and partnerships—such as with CAMFED—to train girls and young women on digital safety, further empowering them to defend themselves in online spaces.
Importantly, Act 1038 aligns Ghana with international obligations under CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, reinforcing that women have the right to live free from violence in all spaces—physical and digital alike.
A Call for Accountable Action
To truly honor the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Ghana must move beyond legislative strength to effective implementation. Achieving this requires coordinated, accountable action across institutions.
- Fully Fund the Domestic Violence Support Fund
Government must immediately capitalize the fund to ensure that shelters, rehabilitation services, and survivor support systems are consistently available. - Strengthen Institutions
DOVVSU, the Judiciary, and the Cyber Security Authority require specialized tools and training for managing electronic evidence and securing higher conviction rates in both physical and online abuse cases. - Prioritise Prevention
Sustainable change requires cultural transformation. Community engagement must involve men, boys, traditional authorities, and religious leaders to dismantle patriarchal norms that sustain violence.
As Ghana joins the global community for the UN’s 16 Days of Activism, one message stands clear: violence against women is not only a human rights violation—it is a barrier to national development. Ghana has laid a solid legal foundation. Now the nation must move from intention to impact, ensuring safety, dignity, and empowerment for every woman and girl—at home, in society, and across the digital world.
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