Thrive
- Apr 14, 2021
- 2 min read

Ghana

Population size: 

30,417,860 [1]

Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:

Prevalence of domestic violence against women (lifetime) 24% [2]

About 34% of 2,000 respondents had experienced IPV in the past year, with 21.4% reporting sexual and or physical forms. Past year experience of emotional and economic IPV were 24.6% and 7.4% respectively. [3]

No research on male victims or other gender identities.

Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:

The economy is estimated to lose output equivalent to 5% of its female workforce not working annually due to VAWG. [4]

Estimated % change due to COVID-19:

32% increase in the prevalence of abusive and violent behaviour at home. Government of Canada has pledged about US$2M to support the national response on child protection and gender-based violence in Ghana. [5]

Current law and policy:

Ghana is committed to expanding the scope of implementing all aspects of its Domestic Violence Act (2007) through the 2018-2022 National Gender Policy.

Ghana has developed the National Action Plan 2018-2022 (GHANAP II) on the UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security aiming to introduce a multi-faceted approach to combat gender inequality including intimate partner violence. The Chief Director of the Gender Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakaria has said that there has been significant progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, the government has yet to release data to demonstrate the progress of government policies.

Marital rape is not illegal. The 2016 national survey revealed that at least 28% of women had experienced domestic violence in the 12 months prior to the study. There is widespread societal acceptance that domestic violence is acceptable.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service has activated a domestic violence hotline to aid victims in reporting their cases. This hotline has been publicised on social media in Ghana.

The Ghanaian government has been urged to fund the Domestic Violence Support Fund established by the Domestic Violence Act (2007). Without which victims cannot utilise the DOVVSU to report their case because it is not decentralised and requires travelling to regional capitals. Ghana is expected to respond to the UN CEDAW recommendations on strengthening the DOMESTIC VIOLENCEA by the end of 2021.

Public spending - Cost $5,000,000 - $4,580,000 funding gap = 91% (May 2020) [6]

Frontline Services: