UN SECRETARY-GENERAL’S STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN
Ghana Ngo: African Women Lawyers Association
(AWLA)
1. Ghana ratified the CEDAW and it means that
the state bound by the articles and
obligations in the Convention.
New and emerging trends of violence in Ghana is
the defilement of children and even babies. As
old as 80 years old men defile children as young
as 6 years old girls. Since polygamy is
customarily practiced in my country it is amazing
why elderly men would not get older women but
children.
The key issues requiring the attention of
decision makers and the traditional authority is
the usage of law as a tool for reform. There is
the Domestic Violence Bill pending in Parliament
which has been publicized so much that it has
been termed
“marital rape” bill. Men are afraid
of the passage of the bill into law because it
will give wives a higher leverage over them
because they assume it results in wives refusal
of sex with their husbands.
Another law which needs to be passed by
Parliament is the law providing distribution of
property at divorce. What is practiced now is
that judges request for a woman
’s contribution to
property acquired within marriage before she gets
a share of the property. This situation is very
difficult and until Parliament passes a law on
property rights at divorce, many women will
continue to stay in violent marriages for the
fear of losing everything if they should divorce.
There are however the good practice of the Women
and Juvenile Unit under the Police Service, which
handles cases involving violence against women
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and children. It has helped to encourage
reportage so far. However the WAJU centers need
technical and professional assistance to be
effective and efficient. A few ngos are assisting
victims with counseling and refuge centers.
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