A sixteen-year-old girl is defiled by her father.
The abuse continues repeatedly, until the child—confused, traumatised and vulnerable—begins to normalise the behaviour. In her silence, she sees herself competing with her mother for her father’s attention and affection.
The story gets worse, in a moment of rage and jealousy, her mother pours boiling water on the girl’s private parts.
The child survives, but the damage is devastating. She spends weeks in the hospital, requires surgery and is now out of school. Both parents have absconded, abandoning her to the care of impoverished relatives who cannot afford her treatment or daily needs.
This harrowing story is not fiction; it is a true story. It reflects the reality of some survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and domestic abuse in Ghana.
Despite clear provisions in the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732)—which entitles survivors to free medical treatment in government facilities—and the Hospital Fees Act,1971 (Act 387 which waives charges for patients referred by state institutions, survivors are still made to pay for medical forms and treatment, which is essential evidence required in court.
In the above case, the matter was reported to a social welfare officer, who also serves as a community paralegal trained by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana).
Community paralegals like him have become a crucial bridge between survivors and justice, offering legal literacy, accompanying survivors to the police and hospitals and ensuring cases are not buried in silence.
Without such local actors, many stories like this young girl’s would never reach the authorities.
A silent crisis for women and girls with disabilities
However, the barriers are even greater for women and girls who are challenged. For many, access to justice is not just difficult; it is nearly impossible.
For the hearing-impaired community, the absence of sign language interpreters in police stations, hospitals and courts means survivors cannot even narrate their ordeal.
They suffer in silence and perpetrators walk free.
Survivors with physical challenges face buildings without ramps, clinics with steep staircases and offices situated on upper floors with no accessibility.
The visually impaired are doubly silenced, as caregivers often prioritise immediate survival needs over the pursuit of justice, which they see as a costly and hopeless endeavour.
The result is systemic impunity: violence against women and girls with disabilities often goes unreported, unprosecuted, and unpunished.
The poor, blind or disabled survivor is rarely heard, much less supported.
Bridging the gap between law and practice
Even with the law on their side and the tireless work of community paralegals, survivors continue to face barriers in accessing essential services. Hospitals still issue bills.
Families are asked to pay for surgical supplies and medicines.
Survivors who need long-term psychosocial support are left without help.
This is why budget tracking and advocacy are critical. FIDA-Ghana’s recent memorandum to the ministries of Finance, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department makes the case clear: The Domestic Violence Fund, which is meant to finance medical care, shelter, psychosocial support and reintegration of survivors, remains woefully under-resourced.
Without adequate and timely disbursement of funds, the legal guarantees of free medical care are hollow promises.
To break this cycle, Ghana must act decisively through: There should be full enforcement of Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act and the Hospital Fees Act to ensure free medical care for all survivors.
Direct allocation and timely release of funds to the Domestic Violence Fund, with clear expenditure lines for medical care and survivor reintegration.
Targeted services for women and girls who are challenged, including: Provision of sign language interpreters at hospitals, police stations and courts, accessible infrastructure in public buildings, including ramps, elevators and disability-friendly facilities, specialised training for medical staff, police, and social workers to respond sensitively to the needs of survivors who are challenged, dedicated budget lines for disability-responsive survivor support under the Domestic Violence Fund and sustained support for community paralegals, who remain the first responders in many underserved communities.
*The writer is the Ag. Executive Director, FIDA Ghana
