By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Bolgatanga, June 08, GNA – The Department of Gender has intensified efforts to combat harmful cultural practices in the Upper East Region through a series of dialogue sessions with men and young boys.
The dialogue sessions, held separately in the Nabdam and Kassena-Nankana West Districts, were aimed at encouraging men and boys to serve as advocates against harmful cultural practices, particularly child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV).
The initiative, which brought together 60 men and young boys, sought to equip participants with knowledge on GBV, child marriage, and FGM and empower them to champion behavioural change within their communities.
The programme, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formed part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Gender to reduce gender-based violence, protect the rights of women and girls, and ensure gender equality.
Mr James Twene, the Acting Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Gender, said the strategy was informed by evidence showing that men and boys played a critical role in either perpetuating or preventing abuse against women and girls.
“Over the years, we have engaged women, girls, and community leaders, but statistics indicate that more than 95 per cent of abuse cases are perpetrated by men. It is therefore important to engage them and make them part of the solution,” he said.
He explained that participants were being trained to understand the causes and forms of GBV and the roles they could play in preventing abuse, reporting cases, and supporting survivors.
Mr Twene said the trainees were expected to return to their communities and use existing platforms such as churches, mosques, youth groups, and men’s associations to educate others on the dangers of child marriage, FGM, and domestic violence.
He expressed concern about rising cases of teenage pregnancies among girls aged between 10 and 14 years, describing the situation as a collective failure that required the involvement of parents, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and state institutions.
“We expect them to become agents of change and advocates against these harmful cultural practices. They should not remain silent when they witness abuse but report cases through the appropriate channels,” he said.
Ms Dora Kulariba, Upper East Regional Adolescent Focal Person of the Ghana Health Service, said harmful practices such as child marriage and domestic violence continued to persist because many communities considered them normal.
Presenting statistics on teenage pregnancy cases for the first four months of 2026, Ms Kulariba revealed that a total of 1,765 adolescent girls became pregnant, comprising 21 girls aged 10 to 14 and 1,744 girls aged 15 to 19.
She noted that men occupied influential positions in decision-making structures within most communities and could therefore play a decisive role in changing attitudes and behaviours.
“Even though men are often part of the problem, they are also a major part of the solution. If they understand the consequences of these practices and begin to speak against them, we can significantly reduce child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence,” she said.
Ms Kulariba called for stronger enforcement of laws protecting children and women and urged traditional authorities to openly condemn practices that endangered the wellbeing of women and girls.
Mrs Georgina Aberese-Ako, the Acting Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Children, noted that harmful cultural practices contributed to violence and inequality, particularly against women and girls.
She called for collective efforts to address the challenge and rallied the men and boys to play a significant role in that regard.
Ms Yvonne Wonchua, the Upper East Regional Focal Person of the UNFPA, encouraged the men and boys to ensure that they replicated the knowledge among their colleagues at the community level to help eliminate the dehumanising practices.
Mr Lawrence Agengre, Assembly Member for the Kongo East Electoral Area in the Nabdam District, described the engagement as timely and necessary, saying participants would extend the education to other community members and work with local leaders to address child marriage, FGM, domestic violence and other forms of abuse.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]