The Renel Ghana Foundation, a non-governmental organisation working to protect the rights of women, in collaboration with partners, has called for decisive action to effectively implement the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732).
Working with SONGTABA, a non-profit organisation, with funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, it said the Act must be transformed from legislative promise into a practical shield of protection and empowerment for women and girls.
Mr Nelson Mandela, the Executive Director of the Foundation, made the call at a press conference in Accra on the Domestic Violence Act.
The Act is to particularly protect women and children from domestic violence and for connected purposes.
Mr Mandela said stakeholders, including policymakers, government institutions and community leaders must ensure coordinated policy action to mitigate domestic violence.
He referenced the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey revealing that intimate partner violence prevalence rates were alarmingly high, with 53.4 per cent in the Savannah Region and 44 per cent in the Central Region.
That called for enhanced investment in tackling domestic violence, Mr Mandela said, adding that
institutional weaknesses, limited awareness of legal provisions, financial and logistical deficits, and cultural norms entrenched violence.
He called for dedicated and adequate funding for the full operation of the Domestic Violence Victims Support Fund and to expand survivour services nationwide.
Mr Mandela recommended mandatory training and capacity building for the police, social workers and judicial officers on trauma-informed approaches.
He encouraged strengthening key bodies like the Domestic Violence Management Board with technical expertise and leadership stability.
Mr Mandela said there must be sustained awareness campaigns nationwide to enhance knowledge on local remedies and elimination of harmful gender norms.
“Ghana cannot afford to leave survivors at risk due to institutional inertia and underinvestment. Every survivor deserves safety, dignity, and justice,” he added.
Through the Gender Rights and Empowerment Project (G-REP), the Foundation and its partners are piloting integrated one-stop centers in selected districts, offering survivours psychosocial counseling, healthcare, and legal assistance in a single space.
Earlier results showed that the models were effective in improving access to timely and comprehensive services and suggested that such initiatives be sustained and scaled nationally.
Nkilgiwurche Boresah Iddisah Jeduah I, the Queen of Yagbon Kingdom, Savannah Region, emphasised the need for cultural sensitivity in media reporting, highlighting the prevalence of stereotypes and inappropriate cultural appropriations.
She urged the media to be diligent in cross-checking facts and information, especially during sensitive discussions.
The Queen advised the media to consult traditional leaders for guidance on appropriate language usage to maintain cultural respect.
She pledged her regions support to the fight against domestic violence.
Madam Elizabeth Lamkie Puplampu, a survivour of domestic violence, encouraged women to desist from enduring the menace but speak out and report their perpetrators.
The Renel Ghana Foundation works to promote and protect the rights of women, youths, children and persons with disability to make them realise their full potential.