Justice now within the reach of the poor and vulnerable in Ghana

May 21, 2021

Women beneficiaries of the Legal Aid Scheme in Duayaw Nkwanta with Ishmael Yeboah Ofosu, Dispute Resolution Officer (Photo: Bossman Owusu/UNDP in Ghana)

“I am a happy wife. My husband has quit drinking and our children are now in school, says Faustina Agbesi, a 37-year-old resident of Duayaw Nkwanta.

In Ghana, like many African countries, it is difficult for the poor and vulnerable to access justice, due partly to high cost of legal services. It even becomes more challenging when it comes to legal representation for cases such as child care, criminal justice and domestic abuse including unending disagreements between partners.

“Whenever my husband got drunk, he would pull a knife and threaten to kill me. There was no food at home and the children were mostly out of school. Finally, we separated”, says Faustina.