Dr Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of CHRAJ
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has raised concerns over persistent discrimination, violence, and abuse faced by women and girls in Ghana, as the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) today, March 8, 2025.
In a statement issued to commemorate the day, CHRAJ highlighted alarming statistics on gender-based violence, urging the government and stakeholders to take decisive action to protect women’s rights and promote gender equality
CHRAJ noted that despite the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Act 2024, which aims to eliminate systemic barriers against women, more needs to be done to achieve true gender equality in Ghana.
The commission stressed that intimate partner and sexual violence remain the most common forms of gender-based violence, affecting between 27% and 30% of Ghanaian women.
According to global data, nearly one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. In Ghana, the situation is equally dire. Data from the Ghana Statistical Service reveals that 24.4% of women aged 15-49 have suffered intimate partner violence, while 19.2% of ever-partnered women in the same age group have endured physical and/or sexual abuse from their partners.
One of the key challenges in addressing this issue, according to CHRAJ, is the inadequate financial support for the Domestic Violence Fund and the absence of functional shelters for victims of abuse.
“CHRAJ acknowledges the various regulations and initiatives implemented towards addressing gender inequality and women’s empowerment over the years.
“Regardless of this, women continue to face social, political, economic and cultural challenges. Thus, government and relevant stakeholders are entreated to do more to ensure the rights protection of all women and girls, as well as Ghana’s compliance with the dictates of the 1992 Constitution and other international instruments.
“The Commission on the occasion of IWD 2025 takes the opportunity to call upon the Attorney-General to adopt the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill which initially came to the 8th Parliament and was passed as a private Members Bill as a government bill and to introduce it before the 9th Parliament to be passed it into law.
“The Commission further exhorts President John Dramani Mahama to throw his weight behind the anti-witchcraft Bill as he has promised to do to the Anti-LGBTQ Bill and to promptly assent to it when passed by Parliament,” part of the statement said.
The commission warned that without proper funding and infrastructure, many women remain trapped with their abusers, with no means of escape or protection.
CHRAJ also drew attention to the abuse and violence suffered by alleged witches, particularly in the Northern and Northeast regions of Ghana.
The commission lamented the fact that despite Parliament passing the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, also known as the Anti-Witchcraft Bill, in July 2023, former President Nana Akufo-Addo failed to assent to it.
The bill seeks to criminalize accusations of witchcraft and the activities of so-called witch finders, whose actions have led to the persecution, banishment, and even death of vulnerable elderly women.
CHRAJ urged the Attorney-General to reintroduce the bill before the 9th Parliament and called on President John Dramani Mahama to support and sign the bill into law once passed.
AM/KA
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