Accra, Dec. 11, – Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has stated that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Ghana, which occurs in homes, communities and increasingly on digital platforms, cannot be eradicated by the efforts of a single institution.
“Gender-based violence, whether in our homes, communities or digital platforms, cannot be eliminated by any single institution – not the police alone, not the courts, and not civil society acting in isolation,” he said.
He added that addressing the problem required collective action, shared responsibility and a firm commitment to the principle that every person deserved dignity and safety.
The Chief Justice made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the Law Court Complex during an event to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Citing national statistics, he noted that about one in three women in Ghana had experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence, stressing that the nature of abuse was rapidly changing.
“Where abuse once remained behind closed doors, it now thrives in digital spaces. Harm is transmitted through WhatsApp messages, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, online threats, cyberstalking and persistent digital humiliation,” he said.
The event, held on 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.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie warned that Ghana had entered what he described as “a new era of violence” and must respond by ushering in “a new era of justice.”
He referred to recent incidents, including the widely reported case of a man who allegedly set his wife and children ablaze before killing himself, and the assault of a teenage girl in the Ashanti Region that was recorded and circulated online.
“That young girl’s suffering spread across mobile phones while she was still searching for help in her own community. This is today’s reality – our digital platforms have become new crime scenes,” he said.
The Chief Justice expressed concern that despite the existence of several laws addressing GBV, many survivors still refrained from reporting cases due to delays in the justice system, fear of victim-blaming, or a belief that reporting would not lead to meaningful outcomes.
“These lived experiences must inform our decisions and shape the reforms we pursue,” he said.
He noted that the Judiciary had, in recent years, adopted gender-sensitive court procedures, integrated human rights approaches and enhanced the capacity of judges to handle digital evidence and GBV-related cases.
“The Judiciary stands ready to strengthen its response. Justice operates as a chain, and when one link fails, survivors fall through,” he stated.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said his vision was for a justice system in which survivors felt safe accessing the courts, perpetrators were held accountable both online and offline, violence was no longer normalised, and collaboration among civil society, the media, academia and development partners was consistent and effective.
He said achieving this vision required accountability, transparency, innovation and empathy, and urged all stakeholders to challenge harmful norms, close protection gaps and act decisively where divisions impeded progress.
Justice Patricia Naa Afarley Dadson, Deputy Judicial Secretary and Court Manager of the Law Court Complex, described GBV as one of Ghana’s most critical human rights challenges.
She said the growing prevalence of digital abuse had created new pathways for harassment, exploitation and the silencing of women and girls.
She noted that the engagement was timely, as the Judiciary continued efforts to strengthen prevention, protection and accountability mechanisms across both physical and online spaces.
Dr Charity Binka, Chairperson of the AWLN Ghana Chapter, said global data indicated that 137 women were killed every day, often by intimate partners or family members.
She said behind the figures were real people, broken families and shattered aspirations, emphasising that GBV was not solely a women’s issue but a societal problem sustained by silence, stigma and harmful stereotypes that undermined justice for victims.
GHBUSS
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