Afrobarometer survey: 64% of Ghanaians want domestic violence to be treated as a criminal matter

The results of the R9 Afrobarometer poll have shown that the vast majority of Ghanaians are opposed to any form of violence that occurs within the home.

The most important takeaways from the poll were that 64 percent of Ghanaians surveyed expressed their desire to have domestic abuse addressed as a criminal offense rather than a domestic concern.

According to the findings of a poll that was directed by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), "Nearly two-thirds of Ghanaians" (64%) believe that domestic abuse should be addressed as a criminal matter rather than as a private concern that should be settled within the family.

More over three-quarters (78%) of Ghanaians who participated in the poll reported that violence against women is "not very common" or "not at all common" in their community. This finding is only one of many that emerged from the research. One in five citizens (21%) disagree.

Eighty-five percent of Ghanaians believe that there is "never" a time when it is acceptable for a man to physically discipline his wife. About one in seven believe that it is justified either "often" (11%) or "always" (3%) in some situations.

More than four in ten respondents believe it is "somewhat likely" (24%) or "very likely" (18%) that a woman will be criticized or harassed if she reports gender-based violence to the authorities. This number is higher than the percentage of respondents who believe it is "somewhat likely" (24%) or "very likely" (18%). Only one-third of respondents, 35%, feel it is "extremely unlikely" that this will happen.

On the other hand, an overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) are of the opinion that instances of gender-based violence will be taken seriously by law enforcement.

source:modernghana.com