Accra, Jul 24, GNA-Inerela+ Ghana, a Non-governmental organisation has held a day’s education on what the law says about early child marriage and its consequences on girls for community members of Korle-Gonnor to prevent abuses.

Lawyer Cephas Essiful Ansah, CHRAJ Legal Officer and Board Member of Inerela+ Ghana speaking on the effects of child marriage and its consequences said the 1992 constitution frowned completely on the act adding that, people especially parents must desist from it.

The educational campaign was as a result of the increasing rate of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in the community.

Lawyer Ansah said giving out a child below the age of 18 in marriage was a serious offence under Section one of the Children’s Act.

“In that same vein, having sex with a child below 18 years is against the law and people found guilty would be dealt with by law. Even if the girl consented to it because she is a minor, it is not allowed,” he added.

He, thus, urged parents to ensure their girl children are sent to school and ensure they stayed in school and do not engage in sex until they reach maturity.

Mrs Pauline L. Essel, Deputy Chief Investigator Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and License Counselor, advised parents not to allow poverty to push their young daughters into the hands of men.

She said such children were not mature enough to take care of themselves let alone start a family and must remain in school to become great leaders in future.

Mrs Essel urged pupils to report parents who force them into marriage to the right authorities when they face such a challenge to help break the eventual cycle of poverty.

Naa Ardua Okropong I, the Queen-mother of Korle-Gonnor, blamed the cause of teenage pregnancy in the community on parents for their improper training.

She spoke on the illegal and unhealthy forms of abortions some girls engage in, which were dangerous and unhealthy, putting their lives at risk.

Naa Okropong I said it was time parents limited the huge sums they spend on funerals and rather invest in the future of their wards.

She advised parents to also befriend their children to know their wants and needs, and also work hard and invest much of their resources in their children as this would help reduce teenage pregnancy in the community.

Mrs Mercy Acquah-Hayford, Country Coordinator of Inerela+ Ghana urged women to engage themselves in some businesses to become self-reliant to reduce their dependence on men.

She said parental care was another challenge that was pushing most girls into the streets leading to teenage pregnancy in the community.

Mrs Acquah-Hayford urged children to respect and honour their parents and advised the youth to stay away from sex to prevent themselves from contracting syphilis or HIV.

She said it was for these reasons that Inerela+ Ghana had come to empower women to know what was right for them to live a dignified life.

Inerela+ Ghana is a non-governmental organization that works with a network of religious leaders living with HIV that empowers themselves and others to live positively and openly as agents of hope and change in and beyond their faith communities.

GNA

Accra, Jul 24, GNA-Inerela+ Ghana, a Non-governmental organisation has held a day’s education on what the law says about early child marriage and its consequences on girls for community members of Korle-Gonnor to prevent abuses.

Lawyer Cephas Essiful Ansah, CHRAJ Legal Officer and Board Member of Inerela+ Ghana speaking on the effects of child marriage and its consequences said the 1992 constitution frowned completely on the act adding that, people especially parents must desist from it.

The educational campaign was as a result of the increasing rate of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in the community.

Lawyer Ansah said giving out a child below the age of 18 in marriage was a serious offence under Section one of the Children’s Act.

“In that same vein, having sex with a child below 18 years is against the law and people found guilty would be dealt with by law. Even if the girl consented to it because she is a minor, it is not allowed,” he added.

He, thus, urged parents to ensure their girl children are sent to school and ensure they stayed in school and do not engage in sex until they reach maturity.

Mrs Pauline L. Essel, Deputy Chief Investigator Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and License Counselor, advised parents not to allow poverty to push their young daughters into the hands of men.

She said such children were not mature enough to take care of themselves let alone start a family and must remain in school to become great leaders in future.

Mrs Essel urged pupils to report parents who force them into marriage to the right authorities when they face such a challenge to help break the eventual cycle of poverty.

Naa Ardua Okropong I, the Queen-mother of Korle-Gonnor, blamed the cause of teenage pregnancy in the community on parents for their improper training.

She spoke on the illegal and unhealthy forms of abortions some girls engage in, which were dangerous and unhealthy, putting their lives at risk.

Naa Okropong I said it was time parents limited the huge sums they spend on funerals and rather invest in the future of their wards.

She advised parents to also befriend their children to know their wants and needs, and also work hard and invest much of their resources in their children as this would help reduce teenage pregnancy in the community.

Mrs Mercy Acquah-Hayford, Country Coordinator of Inerela+ Ghana urged women to engage themselves in some businesses to become self-reliant to reduce their dependence on men.

She said parental care was another challenge that was pushing most girls into the streets leading to teenage pregnancy in the community.

Mrs Acquah-Hayford urged children to respect and honour their parents and advised the youth to stay away from sex to prevent themselves from contracting syphilis or HIV.

She said it was for these reasons that Inerela+ Ghana had come to empower women to know what was right for them to live a dignified life.

Inerela+ Ghana is a non-governmental organization that works with a network of religious leaders living with HIV that empowers themselves and others to live positively and openly as agents of hope and change in and beyond their faith communities.

GNA