Imagine a Ghana where every survivor of domestic violence receives the support they deserve. A country where budgets are not just numbers, but tools for real change. On July 23, 2025, that vision took a bold step forward.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), held a capacity-building workshop at the Sunlodge Hotel in Tesano. The event aimed to empower non-state actors to effectively monitor gender budgeting as part of a broader mission to promote inclusive development and ensure government expenditures address the needs of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
The workshop sought to equip participants with essential skills to track budget allocations, analyze gender gaps, and hold duty bearers accountable—crucial steps toward closing the gender disparity in resource distribution.
In an interview with Univers News, FIDA-Ghana Acting Executive Director Susan Aryeetey shared the motivation behind the initiative.
“This was inspired by our realization that survivors of domestic violence need considerable support. We have a Domestic Violence Fund, but it lacks sufficient resources. That’s why we decided to focus on tracking how gender-sensitive our budgets are—especially regarding domestic violence,” she said.
She explained that the initiative builds on earlier efforts by ActionAid, which began around 2021.
“Over the past three years, FIDA-Ghana collaborated closely with ActionAid, making significant progress toward our shared goals.”
Despite recent setbacks, such as delayed fund disbursements and limited allocations from the new administration, Madam Aryeetey emphasized their continued commitment.
“Our goal is to track how much money is allocated for survivors of domestic violence, how much goes into the fund overall, and how much reaches the Ministry of Gender,” she said.
She also outlined FIDA-Ghana’s advocacy efforts in collaboration with UNFPA, aimed at improving both budget monitoring and allocations.
“We send memos to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Gender. Initially, those were the key agencies, but we realized we also needed to involve the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, which handles fund disbursements. We’ve held meetings with them, and they’ve been active participants.”
According to her, coordination between the Ministries of Gender and Finance has improved in recent months, and future engagement with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department will be prioritized.
During the workshop, keynote speaker Frank Wilson Bodza delivered a presentation on Ghana’s national budget process and the role of civil society.
“Civil society plays a vital role in the budget process. They must understand government proposals, track trends in allocations, and be aware of policies across sectors. This helps ensure target beneficiaries are reached and information is shared in accessible ways,” he said.
Bodza emphasized the legal foundation of Ghana’s budgets, referencing Article 179(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires the president to submit revenue and expenditure estimates to Parliament at least one month before year’s end.
He also discussed how analyzing budgets helps fight poverty.
“We look at whether budgets support goals like rural electrification, water projects, and social programs such as student stipends. We also check if the budget serves the most vulnerable, such as those needing medical assistance.”
Bodza highlighted troubling funding trends and called for transparency
“In 2021, GHS 1 million was allocated but not disbursed. In 2022, it rose to about GHS 2.12 million, then dropped again in 2023. The 2024 projection was GHS 2.74 million, but in 2025, it could fall sharply to just GHS 337,500. This inconsistency is alarming.”
“Monitoring how funds are used is essential to ensure they reach those who need them most.”
The workshop marks a milestone in Ghana’s pursuit of gender equality, showing how targeted capacity building can ignite lasting change. With committed stakeholders and informed advocates, the future looks more promising for a Ghana where every gender’s needs are acknowledged and adequately funded.
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Story by Fauzia Salim|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Michelle Lartey
