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“Ghana needs accurate data on sexual violence victims”
A research report on sexual violence against women and girls in Ghana, has called for the need to improve data collection systems to accurately capture the prevalence, nature, and consequence of sexual violence, to help address the menace.
The research which was a three-year project by the African Women’s Development Fund in collaboration with Ford Foundation West Africa and Open Society West Africa, is demanding for a proper accurate data of victims of sexual violence to help seek justice, and as well have proper data to influence policy decision making.
It was conducted in 2022 in partnership with the Centre For Health Development and Research, and the White Ribbon Alliance in Kenya, to scale up intervention to address and reduce sexual violence in the country 
Over 4,500 girls and women were engaged during the research, carried out in 11 regions including Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Volta, and Upper West, with information gathered from the respondent using standardized questionnaires.
With institutions such as the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, that provided their input, the research delved into the definition of sexual violence, highlighting the unanimous agreement among the participants that includes any non-consensual abuse or assault among others.
The Technical Consultant of the Project, Dr Jemima Dennis-Antwi, presenting the findings of the report to some selected journalists at a day workshop yesterday in Accra, said, about 70 percent of the respondents understood sexual violence.
She said the age of the respondents was between 10 to 60 years, with most of the respondents who have been sexually abused not able to seek justice due to lack of funds to pay for their medical care.
She added that sexual violence was not a simple issue, as it involves a multi stakeholders factors such as cultural norms, social attitude, legal shortcomings, and economic dependencies, stressing ” addressing sexual violence requires a nuanced understanding of these interrelated factors.”
She further stated that “Sexual Violence has devastating consequences on survivors, affecting them physically, emotionally, and psychologically, the broader impact on society includes strain on healthcare systems, legal framework, and overall community well-being.”
“Comprehensive support services are vital for survivors of sexual violence. Accessible and sensitive healthcare, counselling, and trauma-informed care are essential for healing and recovery,” Dr Dennis-Antwi said.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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