Domestic violence in Ghana explained

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]

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

See also: 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Domestic Violence in Ghana . Statsghana.gov.gh . 2017-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221094613/http://statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/publications/DV_Ghana_Report_FINAL.pdf . 2018-12-21 . dead .
  2. Web site: Domestic Violence in Ghana: The Open Secret . PDF . Nancy Chi Cantalupo . Scholarship.law.georgetown.edu . 2017-02-28.
  3. News: Spousal murders in Ghana worrying. Graphic. 28 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927170752/http://graphic.com.gh/General-News/spousal-murders-in-ghana-worrying.html. 27 September 2013. dead.
  4. News: In Ghana, changing the belief in violent discipline. UNICEF. 28 February 2017. 28 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628224518/https://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/ghana_70138.html. dead.
  5. Web site: Domestic violence on ascendancy - Today Newspaper. 30 August 2016. 28 February 2017. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226132842/http://www.todaygh.com/domestic-violence-ascendancy/. dead.
  6. News: Violence Against Women in Ghana. GBC. 28 February 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20130925101043/http://www.gbcghana.com/index.php?id=1.702831. 25 September 2013.
  7. Web site: Factors Influencing Domestic and Marital Violence Against Women in Ghana . PDF . Paa2013.princeton.edu . 2017-02-28.
  8. Web site: Effects of violence against women in Ghana. 28 February 2017.
  9. Web site: Domestic violence rife in rural Ghana - Africa - DW.COM - 16.06.2016. Deutsche Welle. (www.dw.com). Deutsche Welle. 28 February 2017.
  10. Web site: Domestic violence in Ghana is at epidemic levels. 28 February 2017. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226130908/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Domestic-violence-in-Ghana-is-at-epidemic-levels-220342. dead.
  11. Web site: 17,655 Domestic violence cases reported to DOVVSU in 2014 - Graphic Online. Emelia Ennin. Abbey. 26 February 2017.
  12. Determinants of domestic violence against women in Ghana. Ebenezer S.. Owusu Adjah. Isaac. Agbemafle. 1 January 2016. BMC Public Health. 16. 368. 10.1186/s12889-016-3041-x. 27139013. 4852424 . free .
  13. Web site: Launch of domestic violence research report in Ghana - Speeches . 28 February 2017.
  14. Web site: Facts on Violence Against Women in Ghana (Part 1 of 2). 28 February 2017. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226053132/http://gendercentreghana.org/?p=63. dead.
  15. Web site: Facts on Violence Against Women in Ghana (Part 2 of 2). 28 February 2017. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226165321/http://gendercentreghana.org/?p=65. dead.
  16. Web site: Male Partner Violence against Women in Northern Ghana: Its Dimensions and Health Policy Implications. Tspace.library.utoronto.ca. 2017-02-28.
  17. Web site: Justino. Patricia. Domestic Violence in Ghana: Prevalence, Incidence and Causes. Institution of Development Studies. 27 April 2016. 27 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160427190512/http://www.ids.ac.uk/project/domestic-violence-in-ghana-prevalence-incidence-and-causes. dead.
  18. News: Study suggests women supports wife beatings . . 28 February 2017 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927104334/http://www.gbcghana.com/index.php?id=1.1191931 . September 27, 2013 .
  19. Book: Domestic Violence in International Context. Diana Scharff. Peterson. Julie A.. Schroeder. 19 December 2016. Routledge. 28 February 2017. Google Books. 9781317209911.
  20. News: 60% Of Women Justify Wife-Beating—Survey Reveals . Modern Ghana. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135423/https://www.modernghana.com/news/435615/1/60-of-women-justify-wife-beatingsurvey-reveals.html . 2013-09-27 . 28 February 2017.
  21. Web site: 60% of women justify wife-beating - Survey. 28 February 2017.
  22. Ghana. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey with and Enhanced Malaria Module and Biomarker. 2011. 28 February 2017.
  23. Web site: Domestics Violence in Ghana: Socially Accepted and Judicially Trivialized - The Generation. 26 February 2017.
  24. Web site: Counting the Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls In Ghana . PDF . Whatworks.co.za . 2017-02-26.
  25. Web site: GHA103468.E . Justice.gov . 2017-02-26 . 2017-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170226154759/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/09/25/GHA103468.E.pdf . dead .
  26. Web site: Domestic Violence Bill Passed At Last. Modernghana.com. 16 January 2015.
  27. Web site: Microsoft Word - Domestic Violence Act 732. S3.amazonaws.com. 2017-02-28.
  28. News: Lessons from Ghana:The Challenges of a Legal Response to Domestic Violence in Africa. 2017-02-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226142004/http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/domviol/priorwinners/Boas2.authcheckdam.pdf. 2017-02-26. dead.
  29. Web site: Domestic Violence Board Set Up. The Ghanaian Times. 28 February 2017.
  30. Web site: Research Report on Domestic Violence Launched . Ghanaguardian.com . 2016-08-18 . 2017-02-28.
  31. Web site: Ghana Domestic Violence Research Report Launched in Accra. Government of Ghana. Sule. Jotie. 28 February 2017. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226130804/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/3038-ghana-domestic-violence-research-report-launched-in-accra. dead.

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