The Gender Center for Empowering Development, (GENCED) has observed that gradually, Ghana has been slipping deeper into an extreme form of violence against women by their partners, including femicide.
Femicide cases have increased over the years with male partners making up the majority of suspects.
According to media and other reports, 25 women were murdered by abusive partners from January to August 2021. Since then, over one hundred women have been murdered by male partners.
In a statement copied to The Chronicle in Sunyani, the Executive Director of GENCED, Madam Esther Tawiah said, this year alone, a woman has died at least every month in the hands of a man. In most cases, there are other forms of abuse leading up to the murder.
“Unfortunately, no woman is spared with victims from different regions and age groups. Such as Victoria, 42, who was murdered on Friday 23 June, 2023.
She was found dead in her home in Dademantse, which she shared with her husband Seth, 50. Her husband was arrested as the murder suspect and according to him, an argument had ensued between them, leading to his wife’s death”, she said.
The GENCED Executive Director recalled the video of a lady in distress and begging for her life, which appeared online on 21st April, 2023 before she was shot by her boyfriend six times.
She also recalled Abigail Mireku, a form two student at Akyem Nsutam, who was found dead in a barber shop in Fanteakwa East district in the Eastern region.
“These are just but a few names of women who are no longer alive to build a life of their own. The deaths of these women were fortunately documented by media houses but the question is, what of those whose stories weren’t documented?” the statement said.
Madam Tawiah questioned how many of the perpetrators have been prosecuted and what measures have government agencies mandated to protect everyone, including women put in place to address these matters.
GENCED, therefore, demanded action from law enforcers, government agencies such as the office of attorney general and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
She said the ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection needs to spearhead programmes that ensure the safety of women and girls at all times.
“The Inspector General of Police needs to assure the public on what efforts and measures have been put in place to ensure justice is achieved for victims and secondly end such cases”, she said.
Madam Tawiah further said conversation needs to be held with mental health authority on the causes of such cases and how victims’ families can navigate the grief.
According to her, it is time for civil rights organisations, human rights organisations and activists, women rights groups and other non profit organisations to show up for women in their own capacities because every woman deserves to live a full life
