By Fatima Anafu-Astanga
Bolgatanga, Nov.12 GNA-Stakeholders working to end child marriages in the Upper East Region are working tirelessly to ensure victims especially girls who have suffered such circumstances are supported to remain focused in their identified skill areas.
Two cases were reported in the region last year and while stakeholders worked to sensitize them, there were plans in place to help sustain them in identified fields of learning.
The Child Marriage Unit of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection have the primary objective to increase awareness, enhance knowledge on the dangers of child marriages and ensure gender equality, doing so by ensuring that improved linkages are done to safeguard victims delivered from early marriages and also ensuring they either remained in school or learnt a trade.
Mr James Twene, Upper East Regional Director in charge of women who spoke to the Ghana News Agency as part of a follow-up to early marriage reported cases recorded in the region said some basic things needed to support one of the girls to remain in skill training.
“After a visit to one of the victims, we have taken note of the needs of one of the girls and we are working with partners to support and sustain her in the course of her skill training which has started “. He said.
The Director said though there had not been funding this year, a follow-up also on some boys’ clubs formed in thirty-six (36) communities in six districts of the region in the fight against child marriage had been made with an aim to check their activities and child marriage prevention plans.
He said only one case in the Bolgatanga Municipal was awaiting intervention in the pipeline as partners were working to ensure its success.
Mr Twene also added that his outfit was in touch with the leaders of the boys’ clubs on their plans and progress made.
In 2014 the government of Ghana accepted the call to end child marriage in the country in accordance with international conventions and declarations and it took strategies to do so across the country.
GNA