SGBV widespread among women, teenage girls in northern Ghana – Study
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remains a pervasive human rights and public health challenge in the country with women and teenage girls in northern Ghana experiencing high levels of abuse and psychological distress, a new study has revealed.
The study titled: “Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Ghana: Assessing the Prevalence and Psychological Impact as an Emerging Social Menace Among Women and Teenage Girls in Northern Ghana”, was conducted by the Total Life Enhancement Centre Ghana (TOLECGH) with funding support from the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) and led by Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA -Ghana).
The research, led by Mr Peter Mintir Amadu, a Psychologist and Lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), adopted a mixed-methods approach involving surveys, focus group discussions, survivor interviews, and key informant interviews across Tamale, Sagnarigu, and Walewale.
Presenting the findings of the study at a validation workshop in Tamale, Mr Amadu indicated that 90 per cent of the 512 teenage girls surveyed reported experiencing some form of SGBV with emotional abuse accounting for 35%, physical and verbal abuse 25%, sexual abuse 20%, and economic abuse 10%.
He said violence occurred predominantly in homes (55.1%), schools (34.7%), and workplaces (10.2%) highlighting the pervasive nature of abuse across social spaces.
He noted that, “Most of the respondents were between 13 and 18 years with 76.8% being Muslim and 20.3% Christian. The majority had secondary education and came from low-income households.”
The study revealed profound psychological consequences among survivors, with 79.7% experiencing psychological distress including 32.1% depression, 51.3% anxiety, 25.3% stress, and 54% showing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The study highlighted barriers to accessing support services including stigma, low awareness, financial constraints, and fear of retaliation, leading to only 40% of survivors using available services despite 65% being aware of them.
Cultural practices such as patriarchy, polygamy, and victim-blaming were identified as key drivers of SGBV with 48.8% of communities reportedly blaming victims for the abuse they suffered.
Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana described the findings as disturbing and called for urgent multi-sectoral interventions to protect women and girls.
She said, “this study confirms what many organisations working on gender issues have long suspected that SGBV is not only widespread but deeply entrenched in our social systems.”
She said, “we need coordinated policy reforms, strengthened legal frameworks, and expanded mental health and psychosocial support services to ensure survivors received justice, healing, and protection.”
She underscored the need for community engagement, education, and gender-transformative approaches as critical to addressing harmful cultural norms and reducing stigma.
Mr Prosper Huunipuo, a counsellor and tutor at the Tamale Islamic Science Senior High School, welcomed the research and described it as a timely intervention for the education sector.
“Schools are supposed to be safe spaces for students, but this study shows that violence is happening even in learning environments. Teachers, counsellors, and school authorities must intensify awareness campaigns and strengthen reporting mechanisms.”
He said guidance and counselling units in schools needed to be resourced to provide confidential support to students experiencing such forms of abuse.
Source: GNA