Ghana has joined the global community to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, with the national launch held on 25 November 2025 in Accra. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) is leading this year’s campaign under the theme “Unite! End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”
Speaking at the event, the minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, emphasised the growing threat of technology-facilitated abuse. “Digital violence is gaining ground, and we all have a responsibility to fight it,” she said. She explained that the 16-day campaign, observed annually from 25 November to 10 December, aims to intensify public education on gender-based violence (GBV) in all its forms.
Dr Lartey expressed appreciation to partners, especially UNFPA, for their continued collaboration. She described violence against women and girls as a persistent global concern, stating, “About 27 percent of Ghanaian women have experienced at least one form of domestic violence in their lifetime.”
She added that, according to the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), “Approximately 32 percent of girls aged 15 to 24 believe wife-beating is normal. This is unfortunate and sad.”
The minister stressed that online sexual harassment, cyberbullying, sextortion, stalking, blackmail, and image-based abuse are rising forms of digital violence that require urgent attention.
She said the ministry has strengthened partnerships and trained more than 200 market women executives as paralegals, along with 100 professionals, including psychologists, medical officers, and legal personnel, to improve service delivery and referral systems.
Dr Lartey also announced progress on key government commitments. “The National Domestic Violence Policy has been approved by Cabinet,” she said, adding that the revised Domestic Abuse Bill and its legislative instrument are being finalised by the Attorney-General’s Department.
She said efforts are also underway to operationalise shelters in Accra and to construct 16 regional shelters within three years.
She commended UNFPA for involving the transport sector, noting that the GPRTU would play a major role in this year’s campaign. Planned activities include sensitisation programmes in four regions, 15 regional launches, radio and television discussions, and stakeholder dialogues.
Dr Lartey urged all Ghanaians to speak out against abuse. “Let no one die in silence. Blow the whistle against gender-based violence,” she said, sharing the Orange Support Centre’s toll-free line: 0800 111 222.
Story by: Fati Ali Wehyemeh
