By Philip Tengzu
Jirapa (UW/R), March 16, GNA – Stakeholders in the Upper West Region have renewed calls for stronger collective action, to dismantle barriers that hinder women and girls’ active participation in decision-making, leadership and achievement of their life goals.
The stakeholders from state institutions, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and youth groups, emphasised that protecting the rights of girls and empowering women was essential for achieving sustainable development and social justice.
They made the call during an event in Jirapa at the weekend organised by ActionAid Ghana (AAG), to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) on the theme: “Give to Gain: Investing in Safety, Dignity and Justice for Women and Girls,”
Madam Abiba Nibaradun, the Upper West Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, acknowledged progress in gender advocacy and laws prohibiting child marriages among other harmful practices.
She, however, observed that many adolescent girls and young women in the region continued to face barriers that undermined their safety, dignity and future opportunities.
She said teenage pregnancy, sexual exploitation, early and forced marriages and gender-based violence, among others, remained challenges in many communities.
“When young women are denied the right to make decisions about their own bodies, we undermine their dignity and their ability to contribute meaningfully to society,” Madam Nibaradun explained.
She described the annual IWD celebration as not merely symbolic, but a call to action to intensify investments in ending harmful practices such as child marriage and safeguarding the rights of women and girls.
She called on all stakeholders to renew their collective commitment to building communities where every girl was safe, every woman respected and recognised in society, and every young woman had the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
She further urged stakeholders to desist from interfering in cases of women and girls’ rights violations, to ensure that punitive measures for perpetrators of such offences served as a deterrent to others.
She reiterated the AAG’s commitment to strengthening women’s leadership, challenging harmful social norms and promoting social justice through its programming and continued support and empowerment of platforms such as the Young Urban Women Movement, Activista networks and community-based anti-violence groups to advocate for social justice.
Mr Peter N. N. To-ang, the Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive, indicated that empowering women and girls should be viewed as a strategic investment in development rather than a social obligation.
He described early and forced marriage as a serious violation of the rights of girls, because it deprived them of education, exposed them to health risks and limited their economic prospects.
Mr Tu-ang said despite several laws in Ghana to protect the rights of women and girls, laws alone could not eliminate the practice unless communities collectively commit to protecting girls and promoting their education.
Pognaa Mary Lilly Bacheyithe the Queen Mother of Tampala community in the Jirapa Municipality, said investing in the girl child remained one of the most effective ways to build a stronger nation.
She said she was not relenting on her efforts to end the menace of child marriage, which was stealing the dreams and opportunities of many girls.
The Queen Mother recounted how she led a community initiative to intervene and rescue many girls in the community who had been taken out of school for marriage.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo