The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced that the National Domestic Violence Policy Bill which was under review has been approved by Cabinet this year.
Adding that the Law, now proposed to be called the Domestic Abuse Law and its Legislative Instrument are being drafted by the Attorney General’s Department.
“We remain optimistic that the final draft will be submitted to Cabinet before the end of year” she noted.
She disclosed this during the launch of this year’s International Day for the elimination of violence against Women and the beginning of the official 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender-Based Violence yesterday, in Accra.
She noted that the campaign runs from the 25th of November to the 10th of December each year and the theme selected for this years’ celebration is “Unite! End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls,”
According to the minister, the theme draws attention to the growing menace of online and technology-facilitated gender-based violence which includes cyberbullying, online sexual harassment, sextortion, stalking, image-based abuse, blackmailing and the spread of harmful content amongst others that target women and girls especially.
She noted that, the ministry continues to increase awareness creation through policy programmes and interventions as well as strengthening collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders to prevent and respond appropriately to violence against women and girls as well as men and boys.
Dr. Naa Momo noted that the Ministry has trained over two hundred market executives in six regions as paralegals and hundred professionals made up of clinical psychologists, medical and legal personnel as volunteers who support with some services and referrals.
“We have also been working with a lot of stakeholders to address cases that come through our Orange Support Center” she added.
She noted that the ministry is working to operationalize its Shelter in Accra as well as getting new regional shelters across the regions to serve as safe spaces and commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the initiative of involving transport companies in the fight against gender-based violence(GBV).
She encouraged Ghanaians to stand up for the abused and do not shield perpetrators.
“Let no one die in silence and let no one be left behind in the development agenda of our beautiful country and the sustainable development goal, let’s continue to unite and sustain the fight against gender- based violence. Blow the whistle against gender-based violence, say no to actions that promote violence against women and girls, say no to actions that protect perpetrators instead of survivors” she added.
The Country Representative for United Nations Population Fund ((UNFPA), Dr. Wilfred Ochan said the 2025 campaign theme, builds on the transport-sector movement titled “16 Stations 16 Routes, 16 Destinations.”
He noted that the initiative uses Ghana’s transport system as a nationwide platform to reach millions of people in partnership with the Ministry the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), development partners, NGOs, and other government agencies.
“Over the next 16 days, we will employ social and behaviour change communication, capacity building, policy advocacy, and knowledge management to drive sustained impact. With orange flags displayed on thousands of vehicles, torch-passing ceremonies across all 16 regions, and the voices of transport workers, youth, women’s groups, and development partners joining together, we aim to build a visible and powerful nationwide movement to end GBV in Ghana” he emphasized.
He said UNFPA Ghana remains firmly committed to ensuring that no one is left behind – not women, not girls, not persons with disabilities, nor any vulnerable population.
“We will continue to strengthen systems that protect them and ensure that every journey taken in Ghana is safe from violence. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our commitment to the Three Transformative Results: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending all forms of GBV and harmful practices”
He called on all partners to work together to ensure that girls are safe: Governments and technology companies must regulate technology design and data systems that drive social media business models, to prevent the spread and monetization of misogyny and discrimination.
He advised that Parents, guardians, educators, and community leaders must be equipped with knowledge on online safety and engage proactively with adolescents, including boys- to build critical thinking around online content, consent, and respectful relationships.
“Schools and youth programmes must embed digital literacy and online safety education to empower adolescents to know their rights, recognize and challenge discrimination and violence, and protect themselves and others” he emphasized.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
