The Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Dakoa Newman, has reiterated government’s resolve to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Ghana.

Over the years, the Ministry had worked tirelessly with partners and stakeholders to fight violence against women and girls while advancing gender equality, she said.

Ms Newman said this at the launch of the “16 Routes, 16 Stations: Transport Unions Unite Against GBV” campaign in Accra.

This falls under the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and MTN.

The campaign is an annual programme held from November 25 to December 10, which marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Human Rights Day.

It is a mobilising strategy to call on governments, decision-makers, and stakeholders to come together, reflect, and take action on issues affecting the holistic development of women and girls.

Ms Newman said the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey in Ghana, commissioned by the Ministry showed that approximately 27.7 per cent of women experienced at least one form of domestic violence—physical, economic, psychological, social, or sexual in their lifetime.

Additionally, the 2017/2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey revealed that around 38.2 per cent of adolescent girls, aged 15-19, had experienced at least one act of sexual violence.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the UNFPA, established the Orange Support Centre to improve prevention, response and reintegration of abused women and girls.

“This Centre provides critical services, including counselling, legal advice, and medical support, and operates a toll-free line (0800-111-222) for reporting abuse,” she said.

Since its inception in 2021, the Minister said the centre had handled 718 cases, resolving and closing 547, with 171 still ongoing.

The Ministry had also trained more than 180 market executives as paralegals across six markets in Accra and the Bono East, Northern, Western and Volta regions.

In 2024, a total of 105 service providers were trained in the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls subjected to violence.

“… The Domestic Violence Shelter in Accra has also been renovated and will be operational by the end of the year. It is also worth noting that the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund has been operationalised,” Ms Newman said.

She appealed to organisations and individuals to donate to the Fund to enable the Ministry to expand and enhance support for survivors.

Mr Charles Abani, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, said the UN had been at the forefront of efforts to end GBV for over two decades.

Stakeholders needed to confront the reality that GBV remained a significant global issue and tackle it without complacency, he said.

Mr Abani encouraged the citizenry to participate in the campaign and other partnerships to end violence against women.

Dr David Wilfred Ochan, Country Representative, UNFPA, emphasised the importance of fostering accountability and adopting policies that offered safety and protection against GBV.

He urged stakeholders to support actions to stop GBV by making information accessible and empowering survivors to seek help by creating help desks, watch groups, hotlines, and referral pathways at bus terminals and stations.

Mr Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary, GPRTU, advised men who were abused by women to report to the appropriate authorities for redress.

The global theme for this year’s campaign is: “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” while Ghana’s is: “30 Years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls in Ghana.”

The Ministry also held a walk from its premises to the Ridge Roundabout through the Accra Technical University and Adabraka to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.