By: Noelle Theara Appiah
Despite Ghana’s progressive Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), which mandates support for survivors through a dedicated Domestic Violence Fund, the reality on the ground shows a severe lack of implementation due to poor funding.
The 2025 national budget reveals a staggering 87.66% reduction in allocation to the DV Fund, with no funding for shelters or capital expenditure, and less than 1% of the national budget going to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection most of which is absorbed by school feeding and LEAP programs.
This has dire consequences: survivors are left without shelter, material support, or access to medical and psychosocial care.
Civil society organizations like FIDA Ghana continue to raise concerns about delayed disbursements and lack of accountability.
The article calls for urgent action to: Increase and prioritize funding to the DV Fund, ensure timely disbursement, build shelters across regions, and engage the private sector in supporting survivor services.
Without adequate funding, the Domestic Violence Act remains a promise unfulfilled.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
