FOSDA records 2,172 defilement cases filed between 2020 and 2025

The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has released a comprehensive study revealing that 2,172 defilement cases were officially filed in Ghana between 2020 and 2025. The report highlights persistent challenges within the country's justice system regarding the protection of minors and the prosecution of sexual offences. Despite legislative efforts to curb these crimes, the data suggests a significant volume of cases entering the legal system over the five-year period, reflecting both the scale of the issue and an increasing willingness to report such incidents.

A critical finding of the FOSDA study is the substantial backlog of unresolved matters, with 886 cases—representing nearly 40 percent of all filings—still pending before the courts. Furthermore, the evaluation found that the average time required to resolve a single defilement case is 329.1 days, or approximately 11 months. FOSDA’s Executive Director emphasised that these lengthy delays often hinder justice for survivors and their families, calling for more streamlined legal processes and more accessible justice mechanisms specifically tailored for vulnerable girls.

The study also evaluated the implementation of the Second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (GHANAP II). While FOSDA acknowledged Ghana's recent legislative advancements in women’s rights, the report pointed to significant gaps in funding and the completion of planned activities. The organisation urged the government to provide dedicated budget allocations to support the National Action Plan, ensuring that policies designed to protect women and girls are backed by the necessary financial resources to move beyond theoretical progress toward effective, ongoing support.