Janice tiwah Oware, Esq (founder And Executive Director
emphasizes that the event was a symposium on human rights And JusticeChild-Specific Definitions – Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560)
Under Section 13 of the Children’s Act, abuse of a child includes:
• Physical abuse: inflicting physical harm
• Neglect: failure to provide basic needs like food, shelter, and education
• Sexual abuse: engaging a child in sexual activity or exploitation
• Emotional abuse: persistent criticism, belittling or rejection that affects a child’s
emotional development
General Understanding Across Ghanaian Law
The law recognises that abuse is not limited to physical harm. It encompasses patterns of
behaviour that are intended to control, manipulate, exploit, or harm another person —
emotionally, economically, or sexually.
Relevant Laws in Ghana on Abuse
• Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732)
• Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560)
• Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) – includes offences such as assault, rape,
defilement, and causing harm
• Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694)
• Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) – includes cyberstalking, online harassment, and
abuse
Ghana has taken several strides in combating abuse through legal reforms. The 1992
Constitution of Ghana, in Articles 12 to 33, guarantees the fundamental human rights and
freedoms of every human.
Despite these progressive laws, enforcement remains weak. Many survivors are silenced by fear,
shame, or a justice system that is slow, intimidating, or distant. In rural areas, abuse often goes
unreported because of a lack of access to legal services or trust in the system.
So what is the solution?
We must train and resource our police, DOVVSU units, and judicial officers to handle abuse cases
with sensitivity and urgency. We must ensure that laws are not only written in statutes but
etched into the lived experience of every Ghanaian from Tamale to Takoradi.
Let us also lean on international human rights instruments, such as:
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW), and
• The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
These treaties, which Ghana has ratified, compel us to align domestic practices with global
standards of dignity and protection.
