Ghana Has Not Defined Consent in Law

Sweety Aborchie reports from Accra, Ghana, on a longstanding gap in legal protection for women. Between 1993 and 2000, thirty-four women in Accra were murdered—many were night traders and food sellers whose cases received little official attention. This pattern of inadequate response persists today, with roughly 24% of Ghanaian women experiencing intimate partner violence and one in five girls aged 15 to 19 experiencing sexual violence.

Recent events, like the November 2025 assault of Harriet Amuzu—captured on video after previous complaints to police went unanswered—highlight systemic failures. ActionAid Ghana notes two-thirds of women do not report abuse, fearing criticism or shame. While Ghana ratified the Maputo Protocol in 2003, committing to protect women from violence, its 1960 Criminal Offences Act still lacks a legal definition of consent.

In contrast, the European Parliament recently voted to adopt a “yes means yes” standard for consent. The absence of a clear legal definition in Ghana means silence or lack of resistance can be misinterpreted as consent, leaving women vulnerable. Work continues to amend the law and fulfill Ghana’s existing legal obligations.