By Comfort Sena Fetrie-Akagbor
Gushegu (N/R), June 2, GNA – Madam Clara Valentine Tigenoah, Head of Programmes at Camfed GHANA has called on traditional and religious leaders, parents, guardians and teachers to support fighting early child marriages in communities.
She said early child marriage was one of the key challenges affecting education of the girl-child, especially in rural areas.
Madam Tigenoah made the call during a community durbar organised by Camfed Ghana at Gushegu in the Northern Region.
The durbar was to sensitise the community on the importance of girl-child education in the northern sector.
Madam Tigenoah said poverty, peer pressure, and lack of information often encouraged early marriages in communities.
She told the stakeholders to “Keep girls in school. Education is the most powerful tool to end early marriage and poverty.”
She urged stakeholders to show their commitment to support parents and guardians to understand the long-term value of girls’ education.
She called on community leaders to collaborate with Camfed GHANA to ensure every girl stayed in school to achieve her progress.
The Head of Programmes said CAMFED had worked in many districts across the country to provide bursary support for girls, build the leadership of young women, support livelihood opportunities, and mobilise communities through Parent Support Groups, Teacher Mentors, and District Committees.
Mr Abdul-Hafiz Adam, Gushegu Municipal Chief Executive, said Camfed GHANA, had over the years, opened the doors to education for many girls in the Municipality, which had reduced school drop-out among girls in the area.
He said in collaboration with the Ghana Enterprise Agency, a total number of 411 Camfed GHANA supported businesses and 65 self-funded businesses were provided with trainings, start-up grants and Micro Credit Support to boost their businesses, which had helped to reduce unemployment situation in the area.
He entreated the youth in the Municipality to take advantage and get enrolled in the National Apprenticeship Programme to equip them with industry-relevant technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills.
Naa Yab Gushe-Naa, Chief of the area assured the forum that he and his elders would continue to support Camfed GHANA and other development partners for successful implementation of their development activities in the area.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/George-Ramsey Benamba