The Human Rights and Development Services (HURDS) has warned that Ghana’s capacity to protect victims of domestic and gender-based violence is nearing a breaking point following a sharp reduction in government support for the Domestic Violence Fund.
According to the organisation, the Fund—established in 2011 as the backbone of the country’s response to domestic abuse—has been weakened to the extent that shelters, legal support structures, and psychosocial services risk shutting down or operating below minimum standards.
Despite increasing cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), government allocation to the Fund has dropped from GH¢2.7 million in 2024 to GH¢1 million in 2026, a 63 per cent cut.
At a regional advocacy march held in Sekondi-Takoradi, HURDS Executive Director, Madam Eva Ankrah, said the slash in budget allocation has “crippled critical services that victims desperately depend on,” warning that the national SGBV response system is “on the verge of collapse.”
She stressed that “the Domestic Violence Fund is not a luxury line item—it is a lifesaving intervention. Cutting it at a time when violence against women and children is increasing sends a dangerous signal and leaves victims with nowhere to turn.”
HURDS, a rights-based organization championing gender justice and social inclusion in the Western Region, submitted a petition to the Western Regional Coordinating Council calling for an urgent review of the allocation.
The group referenced a recent viral video of a man violently assaulting his wife, saying it mirrors the silent suffering many endure without access to shelter, medical care, legal aid, or protection.
“The public outrage that followed that video reflects a growing fear that the state is not doing enough to protect victims,” Madam Ankrah said. “If we continue to underfund the system, we cannot expect it to deliver justice, safety, or emergency support.”
Receiving the petition on behalf of the Western Regional Minister, Acting Coordinating Director Madam Rachel Fosua Sarpong commended HURDS for sustaining advocacy on domestic violence and assured that the concerns raised would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.
During the awareness campaign, participants held placards with messages such as “Increase Funding for Domestic Violence Response” and “Sexual Violence Is Everyone’s Fight.”
