Accra, Ghana – Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Deputy Minority Whip and Member of Parliament for Weija Gbawe, has raised serious concerns about the prevalence of domestic violence in Ghana, describing the statistics as alarming and unacceptable.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Shaib revealed that 40% of women and 20% of men between the ages of 15 and 49 experience domestic violence. He further noted that 61.9% of women suffer severe forms of abuse, while about 20% of men also endure serious abuse.
According to him, domestic violence goes beyond physical assault. He explained that abuse can also include emotional, psychological, and economic forms of control, stressing that denial of basic rights and expectations within relationships can also constitute abuse.
Hon. Shaib expressed concern that many victims fail to report cases due to fear of stigma, shame, and possible backlash.
“Fear of stigma and punishment prevents victims from speaking up. We must educate the public about the trauma domestic violence causes and encourage reporting without fear,” he urged.
The Weija Gbawe MP cited constituencies such as Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, where data indicates that 61.9% of women have experienced severe domestic violence, as evidence of how widespread the problem has become.
He further disclosed that Ghana records over 16,000 reported domestic violence cases annually, emphasizing that the actual number may be higher due to underreporting.
Hon. Shaib called on Parliament and relevant stakeholders to intensify education, reduce stigma, strengthen enforcement of existing laws, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
He stressed that tackling domestic violence is essential to protecting families, safeguarding mental health, and strengthening Ghana’s social fabric.
