This post was originally published on the SDG Knowledge Hub. Read the original post here.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) continues to be a significant issue in parts of Ghana, with deep-rooted social, cultural, and religious beliefs fueling its persistence. The lack of comprehensive, inclusive data on the extent of the practice makes creating targeted and effective interventions and policies especially challenging.
A new project is seeking to change this. As part of a joint inclusive data initiative with partners in Colombia and Kenya, Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) will use citizen data alongside national statistics to help bridge key data gaps and provide more precise and timely information on FGM, particularly in remote regions.
This article discusses the critical role of inclusive data, policy solutions, and the collective actions needed to eliminate FGM in Ghana.
The data gaps
While Ghana has made strides toward the eradication of FGM, especially under SDG 5.3.2 (Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting, by age), certain regions, particularly in the Upper East, Upper West, and Bono, remain hotspots for the practice. Data collection on FGM in Ghana is focused on accessible areas, leaving remote regions underrepresented. Many datasets lack disaggregation by factors like age and socioeconomic status, making targeted interventions difficult. Additionally, outdated data from the 2017-2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey create gaps, hindering efforts to address FGM effectively.
The role of inclusive data in eradicating FGM
As part of the project, Make Inclusive Data the Norm, a collaboration between the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (the Global Partnership) and the Agencia Presidencial de Cooperación Internacional de Colombia (APC-Colombia), inclusive data approaches are being employed to drive policy changes across Colombia, Ghana, and Kenya. This South-South cooperation initiative aims to empower these countries to share their challenges and best practices in advancing data inclusion, essential for achieving the ‘leave no one behind’ (LNOB) agenda.
In Ghana, the GSS is spearheading the use of citizen data to bridge data gaps. Through mobile technologies, GSS has successfully launched initiatives on gender-based violence, public service satisfaction, and marine litter. FGM is the latest challenge to be addressed using inclusive data​​. The GSS and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection will be leading stakeholders, including several departments of government, civil society, development partners, the UN, research and academia, and the media, to leverage citizen data to enable the collection of real-time, localized data, particularly in urban and remote areas, to capture the lived experiences of women and girls most affected by FGM.
The challenge of FGM in Ghana
Despite the legal frameworks in place, such as the Criminal Code Amendment Act (1994), which criminalizes FGM, cultural and traditional beliefs in rural areas continue to perpetuate the practice. FGM is viewed as a rite of passage or a prerequisite for marriage, causing significant physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Ghana’s existing laws are not enough. Enforcement remains inconsistent, especially in regions with limited access to education and legal services​​.
Policy solutions and advocacy
Ghana’s efforts to combat FGM are underpinned by its alignment with international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and national policies such as the Child and Family Welfare Policy, which aims to protect children from harmful practices, including FGM – and the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Policy where FGM is addressed as part of broader efforts to combat FGM. There are also national laws that criminalize FGM and provide protection orders. However, for these frameworks to be effective, more needs to be done to strengthen enforcement, community engagement, and data-driven policymaking. Areas of focus also include:
- Enhancing law enforcement: Enforcement of anti-FGM laws must be strengthened through better training and resources for law enforcement agencies. There is a need for increased collaboration between government agencies, including the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, and local authorities to prosecute violators of FGM laws.
- Community-led advocacy: Religious and community leaders play an essential role in reshaping cultural attitudes towards FGM. They can promote alternative rites of passage and educate their communities on the health risks and legal consequences of the practice​​.
- Data solutions and citizen participation: Inclusive data practices, particularly through citizen data, can revolutionize how data on FGM are collected. Citizen data enable marginalized voices to be heard, particularly in regions where FGM is covertly practiced. Real-time, disaggregated data are critical to creating targeted interventions and policies. Through the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data, led by the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), countries like Ghana are setting global examples of how citizen participation can enhance data quality and policy implementation​.
Data requirements for policy and intervention
For policies to be effective, accurate and inclusive data are critical. However, significant gaps remain in Ghana’s current data on FGM. National surveys like the multiple indicator cluster surveys and the demographic and health surveysprovide important statistics but fail to capture covert practices in remote areas​​.
By incorporating citizen data approaches, such as community reporting and mobile surveys, stakeholders can gather more granular data, revealing underreported regions and enabling more responsive policy interventions.
Call to action
To achieve sustainable progress in eliminating FGM, stakeholders – including governments, policymakers, civil society, and communities – must take collective action. Key actions include:
- Strengthening law enforcement: Governments must ensure that existing anti-FGM laws are enforced consistently by training law enforcement and judicial bodies.
- Promoting community engagement: Traditional leaders, religious figures, and community influencers need to actively campaign against FGM, promoting education and alternatives to this harmful practice.
- Supporting survivors: Developing and expanding access to healthcare, counseling, and legal support for survivors of FGM is essential.
- Innovating data collection: Using citizen data and mobile technologies to capture real-time data from remote regions ensures that data gaps are closed and interventions are more effectively targeted.
- Using data for policy: Data-driven insights must be leveraged to inform and evaluate policies while engaging local and national leaders in addressing FGM​​.
Eradicating FGM in Ghana requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral effort involving governments, civil society, religious institutions, and development partners. Inclusive data practices, stronger law enforcement, and community advocacy are key to ending FGM and ensuring the safety and dignity of all women and girls.
Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and citizens must unite to empower communities, strengthen enforcement, and support data-driven policies to eradicate FGM. The time for action is now – let’s make inclusive data the norm to ensure no one is left behind in the fight against FGM.
This post was originally published on the SDG Knowledge Hub. Read the original post here.