Accra: Governance expert Frank Wilson Bodza has called on non-state actors to scrutinize the 2026 national budget to promote the inclusion of gender-based violence survivors and ensure responsive, equitable resource allocation. He urged them to uncover gender disparities, ensure accountability from public officials, and push for reform by analyzing budget allocations with a gender-responsive perspective.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Bodza gave the advice at a capacity-building workshop in Accra organized by FIDA-Ghana with support from UNFPA, targeting civil society groups, persons with disabilities, government departments, and the media. "To carry out effective budget analysis, participants must understand budget proposals and historical allocation trends to grasp government policy direction and communicate insights effectively to stakeholders," he said.
Mr. Bodza emphasized that budget analysis improves financial management, supports informed decision-making, minimizes risks, enhances transparency, strengthens forecasting, and drives effective policy advocacy. He added that consistent advocacy must operationalize the domestic violence fund to secure funding for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Domestic Violence Secretariat in delivering essential services to women and girls.
He explained that strengthening the capacity of non-state actors in gender-responsive budget tracking promotes evidence-based advocacy and ensures accountability for women and girls' rights. National budgets, according to Mr. Bodza, represent government priorities for each fiscal year, assess the performance of public programs, influence economic growth and social development, and serve as tools for oversight and accountability.
This year's exercise is the third by FIDA-Ghana and its partners to evaluate domestic violence fund allocations, track budget changes since the 2025 Appropriation Act, and strengthen advocacy for increased funding. Mrs. Susan Aryeetey, Executive Director of FIDA-Ghana, highlighted that survivors of gender-based violence often lack access to legal and psychosocial support, financial assistance, and medical care.
Mrs. Aryeetey remarked, "So, it's important that we get everybody on board so we can amplify our voice. Like I said earlier, we cannot do it alone. We need to link up with other collaborators so that we can hold the government accountable." She noted that many cases go unreported due to limited access to medical care and essential resources.
"You need evidence to bring perpetrators to book. If a victim can't afford it, there's no evidence, and the prosecutor can't proceed. Sometimes, all it takes is a small amount-just pocket money-to follow up on cases. So, the cases shared with us don't reflect the actual numbers. And when that happens, we're sitting on a powder keg. It will explode in our faces," she warned.
