The Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) has condemned what it describes as escalating cyberbullying and digital harassment targeting women in Ghana’s Parliament.

It warned that such attacks undermine democratic participation and discourage women from public service.

In a statement, the Centre expressed concern over online abuse directed at Millicent Amankwah Yeboah, Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, saying the attacks seek to demean her competence and dignity through ridicule of her speech and personal insults.

According to GenCED, the sustained online hostility reflects deep-seated gender bias and risks silencing women in leadership.

“This sustained online hostility, often framed as ridicule for speech and rhetorical style, reflects deep-seated gender bias and has the effect of discouraging women from full and confident participation in democratic discourse,” the statement said.

The organisation warned that the growing trend of online harassment, including derogatory comments, personal insults and threats, not only harms individuals but also signals to women and girls that their voices are unwelcome in public life.

GenCED cited recent data to highlight the scale of the problem. Monitoring by the Media Foundation for West Africa recorded 583 incidents of online gender-based violence targeting women, including female politicians and public figures, between August 2024 and March 2025 across major social media platforms.

National data from the Cyber Security Authority also shows cybercrime cases rising sharply in Ghana, with cyberbullying ranking among the top reported offences and accounting for hundreds of complaints in 2025 alone. In addition, a poll by UNICEF’s U-Report found that 49% of young people in Ghana have experienced online violence, often resulting in emotional distress.

The Centre noted that such patterns of abuse threaten democratic inclusion by intimidating women in public office and undermining equal participation in governance.

GenCED further pointed to Ghana’s legal framework, which recognises cyber harassment as a punishable offence. The Cyber Crimes Act, 2025 criminalises online harassment and cyberbullying, including the use of digital platforms to humiliate or insult individuals, with penalties including fines or imprisonment. It said additional protections are provided under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) and related electronic communications laws.

Despite these provisions, the organisation argued that enforcement remains weak, allowing online gender-based abuse to continue with little accountability.

The Centre stressed that cyberbullying against elected officials, particularly on the basis of gender or language, constitutes gender-based political violence and has no place in a democratic society. It called on political parties, state institutions, media organisations and online platforms to uphold standards of respect, dignity and equality in digital engagement.

GenCED urged law enforcement and regulatory bodies to apply cybercrime laws decisively against perpetrators, while calling on parliamentary leadership to publicly condemn online abuse targeting MPs and support measures to protect digital civic space. It also encouraged media organisations and online platforms to strengthen moderation systems and promote digital literacy.

The organisation further appealed to Ghanaian citizens to reject misogynistic attacks online and instead promote constructive debate focused on policy rather than personal attacks.

It emphasised that Millicent Amankwah Yeboah, like all elected representatives, has a constitutional mandate to serve her constituents without fear of digital intimidation, adding that Ghana’s democracy is strengthened by diverse voices and respectful public discourse.