By Albert Allotey
Accra, Nov. 27, GNA – The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana) has called on government and stakeholders to act decisively to protect women from all forms of violence.
It urged government to strengthen its policy including reforms to prevent and protect women, girls, and children from violence through alcohol use.
Mr Labram Musah, the Executive Director of VAST-Ghana made the call in a statement as the organisation joined the global community to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The statement noted that alcohol use contributes to high levels of violence against women in Ghana, and that evidence shows that real progress in lowering violence and protecting women and young girls depends on stronger regulation.
“Ghana cannot protect women and girls when alcohol remains easy to obtain, widely advertised, and poorly controlled,” he stated, and that alcohol increases the likelihood and severity of violent behaviour and fuels physical, emotional, and economic harm that affects women across regions and social groups.
Mr Musah said according to the WHO Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Fact Sheet, women with partners who misuse alcohol face increased risks of physical assault, sexual violence, psychological abuse, and coercive control.
“In Ghana, the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey found that 41.6 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 years have experienced intimate partner violence, and at least one in four women has faced physical, economic, psychological, or sexual abuse.
“These figures reveal a serious public health problem that requires immediate policy action,” he said.
He said protecting women required the government and policymakers to finalise and pass the Alcohol Control Legislative Instrument,
“This will give Ghana a strong legal framework to regulate sales, enforce age limits, control advertising, and hold industry actors accountable,” he stated.
The VAST Ghana called on the Ministry of Health to facilitate the process to finalise the draft Alcohol Control Regulation while the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection develop or integrate alcohol-related harm and abuses into its national strategies on gender-based violence.
It urged the Ministry of Finance to use tax reforms to reduce affordability while funding services for survivors of alcohol harm
“The Food and Drugs Authority should strengthen regulatory controls on alcohol marketing, packaging, and distribution by enforcing the National Alcohol Policy and the Guidelines for advertisement of regulated products,” the VAST-Ghana advised.
It said the Ghana Police Service should strengthen community policing and ensure that alcohol-related violence reports are handled without delay
The National Commission for Civic Education and Ghana Education Service should carry out education in communities on the link between alcohol and violence, and that the civil society organisations and community leaders create awareness about the impact of alcohol on women’s safety.
It said more importantly, the government must support the conduct of evidence-based research on alcohol use and its link with domestic violence against women and children.
The VAST-Ghana pointed out that, “Every woman has the right to live free from violence. Alcohol harm is preventable, and its impact can be reduced through strong and evidence-based policies.
“Ghana cannot continue to overlook this reality. Protecting women requires confronting the environments that enable violence. It requires political will, strong laws, and decisive action,” it said.
It added, “VAST Ghana stands ready to support the government, communities, and partners to build a safer society where women and girls live with dignity, protection, and equal opportunity.”
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei