- About one in five Ghanaians (22%) say schoolgirls are “often” or “always” discriminated against, harassed, or harangued for sexual favours by teachers, while one-sixth (16%) report that women frequently experience sexual harassment in public spaces (Figure 1). o Slightly smaller shares of the population say women are prevented from taking on paid employment by their husbands or family members (13%), and that girls are prevented from attending school because their families prioritise boys’ education (12%).
- Six in 10 Ghanaians (61%) think women and girls are likely to be believed if they complain of discrimination or harassment (Figure 2).
- Only one-fourth (26%) of citizens say the police and courts are doing enough to protect women from discrimination and harassment in public spaces, while a large majority think these institutions need to do “somewhat more” (30%) or “much more” (41%) (Figure 3).
- Two-thirds of respondents believe that the government is doing “fairly well” (47%) or “very well” (21%) in protecting women as a minority group, but three in 10 (29%) disagree (Figure 4).
A large majority of Ghanaians believe the police and courts must step up their efforts to protect women and girls from discrimination and public harassment, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.
Only one-quarter feel that law enforcement authorities are doing enough to protect women and girls.
Findings also highlight societal challenges faced by women and girls: About one-fifth of citizens report that schoolgirls regularly experience discrimination or sexual harassment at the hands of teachers, while one-sixth say women face frequent harassment in public spaces like markets, streets, and public transport.
Smaller minorities of respondents note that women are sometimes prevented from taking up paid employment by their spouses or families, and that families occasionally prioritise boys’ education over girls’.
Despite these issues, majorities of Ghanaians think that women and girls are likely to be believed if they report discrimination or harassment and commend the government for doing a good job in protecting women’s rights.
As Ghana joins the international community in observing 16 Days of Activism against Gender based Violence, these data provide a timely reminder of the work still needed to ensure a safer and more equitable society for women and girls.