Domestic violence in Ghana

Domestic violence is prevalent in Ghana,[1] owing in part to a deep cultural belief that it is socially acceptable for men to discipline their wives physically.[2][3][4][5] Around one in three women in Ghana are likely to experience domestic violence.[6]

Protests against domestic violence in rural Africa

Prevalence

The problem of domestic violence is more prevalent in rural areas and the northern regions of Ghana.[7][8][9] [10][11] [12][13][14][15][16] According to a 2011 survey by MICS, 60 percent of Ghanaian women believe that husbands are justified in beating their wives, for a variety of reasons. In 2008, 38.7 percent of Ghanaian women between the ages of 15 and 49 who had ever been married had experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence by a husband or partner at some point in their lives.[17][18][19]

Reasons mentioned in the MICS report include: “if she goes out without telling him; if she neglects the children; if she argues with him; if she refuses sex with him; if she burns the food; if she insults him; if she refuses to give him food; if she has another partner; if she steals; or if she gossips.”[20][21] Ghanaian women who are poorly educated and from poor socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to believe domestic violence is justified.[22]

Cultural backdrop
Further information: Women in Ghana and Religion in Ghana

One of the main reasons for the high incidence is Women in Ghana live in a highly patriarchal society where the man/father is the head of the household and takes all major household decisions.[23] Also many spouses are reluctant to report to police and would rather consult their local spiritual leader. It also seen a more a private matter than legal matter.[24]

Efforts to counter domestic violence

In 2007 the Ghanaian government created the Domestic Violence Act in an attempt to reduce violence against women.[25] The act encountered significant resistance from cultural conservatives and local religious leaders who believed that such a law would undermine traditional African values, and that Western values were being implemented into law.[26][27][28]

In 2014 the Ghanaian government set up a domestic violence board to combat the issue.[29][30][31]

See also

References
  1. "Domestic Violence in Ghana" (PDF). Statsghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  2. Nancy Chi Cantalupo. "Domestic Violence in Ghana: The Open Secret" (PDF). Scholarship.law.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  3. "Spousal murders in Ghana worrying". Graphic. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  4. "In Ghana, changing the belief in violent discipline". UNICEF. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  5. "Domestic violence on ascendancy - Today Newspaper". 30 August 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  6. "Violence Against Women in Ghana". GBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. "Factors Influencing Domestic and Marital Violence Against Women in Ghana" (PDF). Paa2013.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  8. "Effects of violence against women in Ghana". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  9. (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Domestic violence rife in rural Ghana - Africa - DW.COM - 16.06.2016". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  10. "Domestic violence in Ghana is at epidemic levels". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  11. Abbey, Emelia Ennin. "17,655 Domestic violence cases reported to DOVVSU in 2014 - Graphic Online". Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  12. Owusu Adjah, Ebenezer S.; Agbemafle, Isaac (1 January 2016). "Determinants of domestic violence against women in Ghana". BMC Public Health. 16: 368. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3041-x. PMC 4852424. PMID 27139013.
  13. "Launch of domestic violence research report in Ghana - Speeches". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  14. "Facts on Violence Against Women in Ghana (Part 1 of 2)". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  15. "Facts on Violence Against Women in Ghana (Part 2 of 2)". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  16. "Male Partner Violence against Women in Northern Ghana: Its Dimensions and Health Policy Implications" (PDF). Tspace.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  17. Justino, Patricia. "Domestic Violence in Ghana: Prevalence, Incidence and Causes". Institution of Development Studies. Institution of Development Studies. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  18. "Study suggests women supports wife beatings". GBC. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2017.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. Peterson, Diana Scharff; Schroeder, Julie A. (19 December 2016). Domestic Violence in International Context. Routledge. ISBN 9781317209911. Retrieved 28 February 2017 – via Google Books.
  20. "60% Of Women Justify Wife-Beating—Survey Reveals". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  21. "60% of women justify wife-beating - Survey". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  22. "Ghana" (PDF). Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey with and Enhanced Malaria Module and Biomarker. 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  23. "Domestics Violence in Ghana: Socially Accepted and Judicially Trivialized - The Generation". Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  24. "Counting the Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls In Ghana" (PDF). Whatworks.co.za. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  25. "GHA103468.E" (PDF). Justice.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  26. "Domestic Violence Bill Passed At Last". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  27. "Microsoft Word - Domestic Violence Act 732" (PDF). S3.amazonaws.com. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  28. "Lessons from Ghana:The Challenges of a Legal Response to Domestic Violence in Africa" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-26. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  29. "Domestic Violence Board Set Up". The Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  30. "Research Report on Domestic Violence Launched". Ghanaguardian.com. 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  31. Jotie, Sule. "Ghana Domestic Violence Research Report Launched in Accra". Government of Ghana. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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