In the face of Ghana’s ongoing economic challenges, the ripple effects are being felt in homes, relationships and families.
Economic hardship is one of the many underlying drivers of domestic violence.
But while the violence itself often grabs headlines, what happens afterwards when survivors are left with physical, emotional and material needs receives less attention due to insufficient funds and other support systems, including psychological and shelters.
The Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732) was enacted to protect survivors and provide for their immediate needs. It established the Domestic Violence Fund, with a clear mandate: to address the material needs of survivors, support rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration, and build shelters across regions and districts.
It also envisioned training for families and capacity building for professionals working with survivors. Critically, the law identified two main sources of funding: Money approved by Parliament for payment into the Fund, and Money from other sources (e.g. private sector, individuals, organisations, etc).
Monitor
Over the years, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Ghana) and other civil society organisations have consistently monitored national budgets to assess how important this mandate is taken.
Unfortunately, the findings are deeply concerning with a drastic reduction of budgetary allocation to the Domestic Violence Fund in the 2025 Budget.
Although the 2025 national budget was read with optimism just a few months ago, a closer look reveals an alarming truth.
The budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) remains less than 1% of the total national budget, with 99.4% of that committed to just two programmes: the National School Feeding Programme and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
This leaves negligible financial support to other crucial programmes and projects, such as the Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking.
More worrying, the analysis shows, is that in 2025, the DV Fund has seen an 87.66 per cent reduction in budgetary allocation compared to 2024. Again, no funds have been allocated for capital expenditure, meaning no funding for the construction or maintenance of shelters. This is not just a number on a spreadsheet; it has real, devastating consequences.
What does this mean for survivors?
The consequences of funding cuts are devastating. Shelters cannot be built or maintained, leaving survivors without temporary safe havens.
Basic material needs go unmet, while access to medical care and psychosocial support—both essential to healing—becomes limited or unavailable.
Rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration services are either halted or drastically reduced.
Frontline professionals are left unsupported, under-trained, and overwhelmed. Ultimately, the protective system collapses, forcing many survivors to remain in or return to abusive environments.
An urgent call to action
Understanding the contents of the budget is critical if we are to truly protect survivors of domestic violence.
The current inadequacy of funding to the Domestic Violence Fund is a clear indication that social protection, especially for women and children at risk, is not being prioritised.
The article calls for urgent action to prioritise and increase funding to the DV Fund, ensure timely disbursement and build shelters across regions.
Conclusion
Domestic violence costs this nation far more than we realise, lost productivity, burdened health systems and trauma that spans generations. Investing in the Domestic Violence Fund is not a luxury or a legal obligation alone; it is a moral imperative and a national necessity.
If we are to break the cycle of violence, we must not only pass laws, but we must also fund them. Survivors deserve more than promises.
They deserve protection, dignity, and a path to healing.
The writer is Programme Manager - International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Gh)
Human Rights and Development Specialist
