Renel Ghana Foundation calls for stronger implementation of Domestic Violence Act to protect women and girls

The Renel Ghana Foundation, in collaboration with SONGTABA and with funding support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, has urged government and stakeholders to take decisive steps to fully implement the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732).

At a press conference in Accra, the Foundation’s Executive Director, Mr. Nelson Mandela, stressed that the law must move beyond legislative promise to become a practical shield of protection and empowerment for women and girls. He said coordinated policy action involving government institutions, policymakers and community leaders was crucial to mitigating domestic violence.

Citing the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, Mr. Mandela noted alarmingly high intimate partner violence prevalence rates—53.4 per cent in the Savannah Region and 44 per cent in the Central Region. He said the figures underscored the urgent need for stronger investments in tackling the menace.

He highlighted institutional weaknesses, financial and logistical deficits, limited awareness of the law, and entrenched cultural norms as barriers to progress. He called for adequate funding for the Domestic Violence Victims Support Fund, expansion of survivor services nationwide, and mandatory trauma-informed training for police, social workers and judicial officers. Strengthening the Domestic Violence Management Board with technical expertise and leadership stability, he added, was also key.

“Ghana cannot afford to leave survivors at risk due to institutional inertia and underinvestment. Every survivor deserves safety, dignity, and justice,” Mr. Mandela said.

Through the Gender Rights and Empowerment Project (G-REP), the Foundation and its partners are piloting one-stop centres in selected districts, providing survivors with psychosocial counselling, healthcare and legal assistance under one roof. Early results, he noted, show the model is effective and should be scaled nationally.

The Queen of the Yagbon Kingdom in the Savannah Region, Nkilgiwurche Boresah Iddisah Jeduah I, called for cultural sensitivity in media reporting, cautioning against stereotypes and inappropriate cultural appropriations. She encouraged journalists to cross-check information and consult traditional leaders on language use to maintain respect. She pledged her region’s full support for efforts to end domestic violence.

Madam Elizabeth Lamkie Puplampu, a survivor, urged women not to endure abuse in silence but to speak out and report perpetrators.

The Renel Ghana Foundation continues to champion the rights of women, youth, children and persons with disabilities, working to empower them to realise their full potential.