Upper West Region Launches Fund to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence

In a move to support victims of domestic violence in the Upper West Region, The Upper West Domestic Violence Fund has been officially launched in Wa, a bold and much-needed initiative powered by a One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵100,000 ) seed fund from OXFAM Ghana and supported by Gyinsung Shelter, the Department of Gender, and other key Civil society organizations and stakeholders.

The launch, held in Wa on Tuesday, April 8, brought together traditional leaders, civil society actors, business leaders, government officials and human rights commissioners to give survivors of domestic abuse real hope and tangible support.

Dr Martin Dery, Executive Director of Pronet North and Chairman of the Upper West Regional Gender Support Network, in his welcome remarks, noted that financing has always been a challenge in the fight against domestic violence, particularly victims.

“Financing has always been a challenge, especially in poor communities like ours, where victims often suffer in silence because they can't afford to seek help. But today is different. Today, we're taking a stand as a region,” he stated.

Speaking during the launch of the Fund, Madam Thelma Hayford, Gender Advisor at OXFAM Ghana, mentioned that the fund's launch follows the successful implementation of the same initiative in the Upper East Region.

The fund is modelled after a successful initiative in the Upper East Region, spearheaded by the Widows and Orphans Movement, which turned financial support into a lifeline for survivors—offering shelter, legal aid, and economic empowerment.

“Now, the Upper West Region is following suit with its own homegrown solution to a deeply entrenched problem,” she mentioned.

Madam Charity Batuure, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Gender, said the launch of the fund will bring relief to victim-survivors of domestic violence.

For many, the launch of the fund is personal. Recalling past cases like the infamous ‘Anaata case’, Madam Batuure noted how survivors were once passed from house to house in desperate search of safety. “It took eight years to get a proper shelter, and the journey here has been long and painful. But today, it’s a dream come true,” she stated.

In his keynote address, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, stated that the fund's launch aligns with Ghana’s international commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He noted that the Gyinsung Shelter and the Upper West Domestic Violence Fund are now seen as beacons of hope in the region—concrete proof that multi-stakeholder collaboration can break the cycle of violence and offer new beginnings to the most vulnerable.

 “Let us all be ambassadors for the Youth Shelter and the Domestic Violence Fund,” said a speaker. The survivors are counting on us. And with unity, we can build a region where no one is silenced, and everyone feels safe.”