A survey conducted by ActionAid Ghana in two districts in the Upper West Region has revealed that there have been widespread incidences of gender-based violence and harassment at workplaces, especially in the informal sector.

The survey conducted in the Jirapa and Lambussie districts among 25 women groups and in 16 communities had 76 cases of domestic violence reported by women.

Upper West Regional Programmes Officer for Action Aid Ghana, Habiba Nibaradun made the startling revelation at an event to campaign for the government to ratify the International Labour Organization convention and harassment in the world of work in Wa.

Though the issue of gender-based violence and harassment at workplaces in the informal sector are mostly unreported, there is evidence that the phenomenon exists in the country.

Several workers who are victims of the incident mostly do not report the incident. As a result, the perpetrators of the inhumane act go unpunished and in some cases continue with the act.

Action Aid Ghana, therefore, organised a campaign for the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 to outlaw gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the World of work.

The campaign brought together representative of different associations (smallholder women farmers, TUC, informal sector workers and activists) to add their voices to the call on the government of Ghana to ratify the ILO convention on violence and harassment to guarantee a safer working environment for all workers in the country.

Habiba Nibaradun stated that as an organization one of their key mission priorities is to work towards addressing the root causes of violence against women and girls, reduce unpaid care work and promote decent work.