For nearly a decade, Rhoda Rakari, a dedicated girl-child officer in Ghana’s West Mamprusi District, has witnessed the devastating toll of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) on women and girls.
Despite her relentless efforts, stories of abuse continue to surface—stories like that of a 13-year-old girl who was forcibly impregnated and withdrawn from school to marry her perpetrator.
“She was bright, full of dreams, wanting to be a nurse,” Rakari recalled, her voice heavy with frustration. “But her parents and community elders warned me to stay silent. They see marriage as more important than education.”
This heartbreaking reality is all too common in northern Ghana, where entrenched patriarchal norms prioritize farming and early marriage over girls’ education and aspirations. In many cases, violence against women is wrongly viewed as a form of discipline, leaving victims trapped in cycles of abuse and silence.
The statistics are alarming. According to the Ghana Statistical Service (2021), approximately 24.4% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced intimate partner violence. About 19.3% of young women were married before the age of 18, and in 2020 alone, the Ghana Police Service recorded over 16,000 cases of violence, the majority of which targeted women.
In response to this crisis, the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG), through the Support for Human Rights and Gender Equality (S(HE)) project by GIZ Ghana and funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has launched a bold initiative titled “From Awareness to Action: A Gender Transformative Approach to SGBV Prevention.”
“Our goal is not just awareness but action—changing mindsets, strengthening institutions, and empowering communities to reject violence,” said Gabriel Ananya, Programmes Manager at YHFG.
The initiative takes a holistic approach by engaging influential stakeholders such as queen mothers, imams, pastors, and youth leaders to challenge harmful social norms and promote gender equality.
Mumuni Misbaw of the West Mamprusi Gender Department acknowledged the pressing need for intervention. “GBV is rampant here. This project is a lifeline,” he said.
Although progress is being made, resistance persists. Rakari, who has been personally targeted for speaking out, remains resolute. “If we stay silent, nothing changes,” she insisted.
Encouragingly, local leaders are beginning to embrace change. A chief who once dismissed women’s rights has now become an outspoken advocate against child marriage. Women’s groups trained by YHFG now confidently report incidents of abuse, and communities are slowly beginning to shift their views on gender roles and violence.
The road ahead is long, but YHFG’s gender-transformative strategy is showing promise. For girls like the 13-year-old who once dreamed of becoming a nurse, the initiative offers a chance—however slim—for justice, dignity, and a future reclaimed.
“Every girl saved is a victory. We won’t stop,” Rakari affirmed.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
