Why Ghana's fight to end violence against women must conquer the home and digital space

As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, Ghana’s progress in securing women’s rights is being tested on two distinct, yet interconnected, fronts.

The nation faces the persistent stain of physical and domestic abuse while simultaneously confronting the growing, insidious threat of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).

Eliminating this violence requires more than just good laws; it demands political will, judicial muscle, and a revolution in cultural attitude.

The Enduring Crisis: A Failure of Implementation

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is not an abstract issue in Ghana; it is a painful reality captured in national data. The Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) reports in the year 2014 revealed that a quarter of Ghanaian women (24.4%) aged 15-49 have experienced intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence.

The more recent GDHS (2022) reports a slightly different, though still high, figure: 20.6% of women aged 15-49 reported having experienced physical and/or sexual IPV from a current or most recent intimate partner in their lifetime (Source 1.1).

Ghana has the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732)—a landmark piece of legislation that criminalizes all forms of domestic abuse.

The effective implementation of the Domestic Violence Act faces significant barriers, creating an immense gap between what the law's promise and its daily reality:

Low Conviction Rates: Despite thousands of reports filed with The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, a key institution for investigating and prosecuting domestic victims cases; only a small fraction—estimated at around 10%—of gender-based violence cases result in successful convictions.

Socio-Cultural impunity: Deeply ingrained patriarchal norms and the cultural tendency to view domestic abuse as a "private family matter" discourage reporting. Victims fear stigma, community blame, economic ruin and the collapse of their marriage, often choosing silence over the challenging, complex path to justice, shielding perpetrators from accountability.

The Unfunded Mandate: The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service is severely handicapped by the chronic underfunding of the legislatively mandated Victims of Domestic Violence Support Fund.

This lack of resources means crucial state-run shelters and comprehensive psycho-social support—essential for survivors—are often non-existent, leaving victims reliant on overstretched charities (CSO’s) and often at times spending nights at the Police stations.

The law exists, but without decisive funding, the justice system often fails survivors at the critical moment of their need.

The Digital Evolution of Abuse: Ghana Fights Back

As the physical abuse migrated online, Ghana’s legal response matured with the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038). The Act established the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), a body mandated to regulate cybersecurity activities. The CSA's functions now include promoting the online protection of women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and underserved populations.

This institutional focus ensures that the safety of vulnerable groups, including women, is an explicit part of the national cybersecurity strategy, leading to targeted public awareness campaigns and collaborations with organizations like CAMFED to train young women on digital safety.

This legislation is a potent new weapon, recognizing that digital violence is not "harmless trolling online," but a grave human rights violation that silences women and restricts their public participation.

Heavy Penalties: The Act specifically criminalizes several offenses that disproportionately target women and girls, carrying significant penalties that demonstrate the severity with which the state views these digital abuses:

Offense Category from Act 1038

Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images (NCII) (Revenge Porn) section 67

A conviction can lead to a fine of up to GH₵240,000 (12,000 penalty units) or a term of imprisonment of up to three (3) years, or both

Sexual Extortion (Sextortion) section 66

Punishable by a fine and/or a term of imprisonment of up to five (5) years and a fine of up to GH₵120,000 (6,000 penalty units).

Cyberstalking Section 65

Punishable by a fine or a term of imprisonment of up to five (5) years, or both

These explicit penalties are crucial because they empower the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU)and the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to investigate and prosecute cases with clear legal backing, thereby moving the issue of online abuse from a purely social problem to a recognized criminal matter. The law also includes provisions for the protection of children online, addressing issues like child sexual exploitation and abuse material.

This legislative modernization validates Ghana’s commitments under international treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol, affirming that the right to live free from violence applies equally to the physical and digital domains.

A Call for Accountable Action

To truly honor the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Ghana must move from legislative excellence to accountable execution.

1. Fully Resource the Fund: The government must prioritize the immediate and full capitalization of the Domestic Violence Fund to build the institutional safety net survivors desperately need.

2. Specialise and Equip: DOVVSU, the Judiciary, and the Cyber Security Authority requires specialized training and equipment to effectively handle electronic evidence and ensure high conviction rates for both physical and cybercrimes.

3. Invest in Prevention: There must be a concentrated effort through education and community engagement—involving men, boys, traditional, and religious leaders—to aggressively dismantle the patriarchal norms that are the root cause of this violence.

As Ghana joins the UN and the global community in marking the 16 Days of Activism, the call is clear: Violence against women stunts national development and fractures the social contract. Ghana has laid a solid legal foundation; now, it must deliver on the promise of justice. The Ghanaian community with its institutional framework must work together to ensure that every woman and girl is safe, respected, and empowered, whether in the home, on the street, or in the digital space.