GSS: Nearly Half of Women Face Domestic Violence in Some Districts
GSS report shows Central, Savannah, and Volta regions have the highest prevalence of domestic violence against women
- Central, Savannah, and Volta regions record the highest levels of domestic violence against women, with some districts exceeding 60%
- GSS district-level data highlights extreme local vulnerabilities masked by national averages
- Targeted interventions, better-resourced DOVVSU offices, and community engagement are recommended to protect women
The Central Region has been identified as Ghana’s domestic violence hotspot, with 44.6% of women reporting experiences of physical violence, followed by the Savannah Region at 42.9% and the Volta Region at 40.2%.
These figures come from the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) new District-Level Small Area Estimation, which combines data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
The report also highlights that the Volta Region has the highest prevalence of sexual violence at 22.3%, well above the national average, followed by the Central and Savannah regions at 19.6% each. The North East recorded the lowest incidence at 5.2%.
At the district level, vulnerabilities are even more pronounced. Sawla-Tuna-Kalba in the Savannah Region reported the most alarming figure nationwide, with 61.9% of women aged 15–49 estimated to have experienced at least one form of domestic violence—physical, emotional, or sexual.
In contrast, districts in Bono, Bono East, Upper West, and North East regions recorded far lower physical violence rates, some below 25%, revealing stark protection inequalities across the country.
The GSS emphasizes that tackling domestic violence in high-risk districts will require targeted, district-specific interventions, particularly in Central, Volta, and Savannah. It calls for institutions such as the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), family courts, and district gender desks to be adequately staffed and resourced.
The report urges government integration of these district-level estimates into local planning and budgeting to ensure that programs and funding reach the communities most at risk. It also recommends engaging traditional and religious leaders to challenge social norms that perpetuate domestic violence and discourage reporting.
