Stakeholders have expressed deep concern over the high incidence of domestic violence among women, following a revealing statement by Joycelyn Adii, Bono Regional Director of the Department of Gender.
Mrs. Adii disclosed that about 32 percent of girls in Ghana aged 15 to 24 believe that ‘wife beating’ is justifiable. She referenced a 2016 domestic violence survey which revealed that 27.7 percent of Ghanaian women have experienced at least one form of violence.
In light of these alarming statistics, Mrs. Adii passionately called on stakeholders to support efforts to eliminate harmful traditional practices that hinder the holistic growth and development of women and girls. She identified these practices as significant barriers to progress for women and girls in Ghana.
Her remarks came during a forum held at Abesim, near Sunyani, to mark the 2025 celebration of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence” campaign.
Every November, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) leads this campaign to raise awareness and promote action to end violence against women and girls nationwide.
The forum, organized by the Bono Regional Office of the Department of Gender with support from the NGO ActionAid Ghana (AAG), was held under the theme “The Role of the Community in Protecting Women and Girls.”
Mrs. Adii also highlighted the rising concern of digital violence, citing online attacks, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of images, body-shaming, threats, defamation, and harassment as emerging tools of abuse. She stressed that, like physical violence, digital violence severely impacts confidence, dignity, mental health, and opportunities for victims.
