In her powerful keynote address at the 2026 PAWA conference, Nana Nanabea Oforiwaa Budu Sikaba transitioned from the global stage to a direct confrontation with the systemic crises affecting women’s safety and health. Speaking not only as a traditional leader but as a mother and partner in the fight for human rights, she highlighted the urgent need to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as national security and economic imperatives.

The Reality of the Crisis

Nana Nanabea presented sobering data regarding the epidemic of violence in Ghana:

Physical Violence: 33% of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence.

Intimate Partner Violence: 36% of ever-married women have faced emotional, physical, or sexual violence from a partner.

Controlling Behavior: 61% of women report experiencing controlling behavior from a partner.

The Fight Against FGM

Addressing FGM as a deeply entrenched systemic violation, she noted that while national prevalence is roughly 2.4%, regional hotspots like the Upper West Region see rates soar to 32.5%, with some areas reaching as high as 82%.

She emphasized that this practice—prohibited under the Criminal Offences Act (Section 69A)—offers no health benefits and inflicts devastating physical, reproductive, and psychological trauma.

The Queenmother’s Multi-Layered Solution

To combat these issues, the Queenmother proposed a strategy that unites tradition with modern legal and financial action:

1. Legal Enforcement & Traditional Authority

Empowering Leaders: Queenmothers and local leaders must use their authority to report offenders and partner with police to rescue girls from “cutting schools”.

Specialized Training: Funding is needed for law enforcement and the judiciary in hotspot regions to properly investigate GBV and FGM cases.

2. Cultural Transformation (The Alternative Rite)

Alternative Rites of Passage (ARPs): Investing in community dialogues that replace the physical “cut” with education, mentorship, and feasting, allowing communities to celebrate womanhood safely.

Grassroots Support: Championing local groups that drive change from within the community.

3. Education and Economic Independence

The Protective Shield: Education serves as the strongest defense; a mother with even a primary education is far less likely to subject her daughter to FGM.

Financial Autonomy: Investing in economic opportunities for women reduces the pressure to undergo harmful practices as a prerequisite for marriage or survival.

Nanabea concluded with a call for targeted, funded action, urging leaders to ensure that the fundamental rights to health, security, and integrity are guaranteed for every daughter.