Faith and Traditional Actors in Ghana have expressed readiness to join the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
They have expressed optimism that a collective and effective advocacy role played out by them will facilitate a drastic decline in the prevalence rate of the menace in the country.
This came up at a 2-day capacity building training workshop, organized by Muslim Family Counselling Services on behalf of Faith to Action Network.
It was a workshop, held on 9th-10th July, 2025, at the Kumasi Central Mosque, solely for faith and traditional actors.
The training aimed at fostering collaboration among the target group, increase their awareness on the prevalence rate of SGBV and preventive measures and whip up their interest to advocate for policy changes that can protect victims of SGBV.
In attendance at the workshop were the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Zakaria , the Traditional Head of the Frafra community Chief Musah Akambonga, Nana Ogyam Amankwah who is the Nifahene for Kumasi Agogo, Rev. Father Richmond Darko Yeboah (Curate at St. Cyprians Anglican Cathedral, Kumasi), among other eminent religious scholars from the Muslim and Christian community.
Joining the workshop virtually were participants from Togo, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Rev. Father Richmond Darko Yeboah remarked that, he is in full support of the move, saying he will commence advocating against SGBV by sensitizing members of his church through every available means.
According to him, the current global prevalence rate of SGBV must be a wakeup call for all faith actors.
It is estimated that, 1 in 10 girls worldwide has been subjected to sexual violence and that 1 in 3 women (736 million) worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime based on their gender.
94 percent of children between ages of one and fourteen are said to have experienced one form of GBV (MoGCSP 2018).
According to a 2022 UN Women report, 1 in 4 Ghanaian women have endured physical and /or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
Studies indicate that approximately 30 percent of Ghanaian women encounter sexual violence at least once in their life.
Rev. Father Richmond Darko Yeboah described the report as worrying after reflecting on associated ramifications on victims.
He therefore called for a collaboration among faith and traditional actors as they join the fight against the menace.
In an interview granted on the sidelines of the training, Executive Director for MFCS, Mohammed Bun Bida mentioned that, advocacy by faith and traditional actors will contribute immensely in the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence.
Per the status-quo vis-a-vis the rate of prevalence within the Muslim and Christian communities, Bun Bida critiqued that faith actors have not been instrumental enough in the fight against SGBV.
He gave reason that, majority can’t identify cases that amount to SGBV, hence the holding of the workshop.
Presentations by facilitators Hajia Lamnatu Adam (Executive Director for SONGTABA and Women Rights Promoter) and Aba Oppong ( Executive Director for Rights and Responsibilities Initiatives, Ghana) at the workshop succeeded in enlightening participants on the types of Sexual and Gender-based violence, key prevention and intervention strategies, strategies for awareness creation, local laws and policies related to GBV, etc.
Enock Akonnor is a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, serving as CEO and Managing Editor for www.leakyghana.com. His gravitas, which is mirrored by many years of proven and enviable experience in the field of journalism has positioned him among the most sort after media practitioners in Ghana.
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