Chief Justice Urges Coordinated Efforts to Combat Gender-Based Violence
The Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called for a coordinated effort to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Ghana.
He highlighted that GBV, manifesting in homes, communities and increasingly across digital platforms, cannot be eliminated by any single institution.
In a statement read on his behalf at the Law Court Complex during the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against GBV on Wednesday, December 10, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie cited national statistics showing that one in three Ghanaian women has experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence, emphasizing that the nature of abuse is rapidly evolving.
“Gender-based violence, whether in our homes, communities, or online spaces, cannot be addressed by one institution alone not just the police, the courts, or civil society. It requires all of us, united by purpose, commitment, and a shared belief that every individual deserves dignity and safety,” he said.
He noted that abuse, once largely confined to private spaces, now extends into digital spheres through non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberstalking, online threats and relentless digital harassment.
The event, held under the sub-theme “Upholding Rights, Delivering Justice: The Role in Curbing Gender-Based Violence in Ghana,” aligned with the global theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
Participants included queen mothers, officials from the Department of Social Welfare, Civil Society Organisations, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Cyber Security Authority, UN Women, and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie warned that Ghana has “entered a new era of violence” and must correspondingly “enter a new era of justice.”
He referenced recent incidents, including the killing of a man’s wife and children and the assault of a teenage girl in the Ashanti Region, which was recorded and circulated online.
He lamented that despite existing laws addressing GBV, many survivors do not report incidents due to slow justice processes, fear of victim-blaming, or doubt that action will be taken.
Mr. Baffoe-Bonnie highlighted that the Judiciary has taken steps to strengthen its response to GBV by adopting gender-sensitive court procedures, integrating human-rights approaches, and training judges in handling digital evidence. “Justice is a chain; if one link breaks, the survivor falls through,” he remarked.
He envisioned a justice system where survivors feel safe seeking legal redress, perpetrators are held accountable online and offline, violence is no longer normalized, and partnerships among civil society, media, academia, and development partners are effective. Achieving this, he said, requires accountability, transparency, innovation and empathy.
Justice Patricia Naa Afarley Dadson, Deputy Judicial Secretary and Court Manager of the Law Court Complex, described GBV as one of Ghana’s most pressing human rights challenges, noting that digital abuse has created new avenues for harassment and exploitation.
Dr Charity Binka, Chairperson of AWLN Ghana, highlighted global statistics showing that 137 women are killed daily, often by intimate partners or family members, emphasizing that GBV is a societal concern driven by silence, stigma and harmful stereotypes.
