By Philip Tengzu
Kpare (UW/R), July 9, GNA – Madam Abiba Nibaradun, the Upper West Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana (AAG), has observed that child marriage is a deep-rooted challenge that deprives girls of their education, health, voices, economic opportunities and holistic development.
Child Marriage robs communities and nations of the immense potential that lies within every girl, which has made its fight a fight for social justice and equality.
She, therefore, called on parents to make conscious efforts to prioritise the welfare and education of their children, and added that investing in girls’ education was one of the effective ways of preventing child marriage.
Madam Nibaradun made the observation at Kpare in the Lambussie District during a community engagement on ending child marriage and addressing child protection issues.
ActionAid Ghana organised the engagements in twelve communities in the Lambussie and Jirapa Districts as part of its routine programming to combat child marriage and promote child protection.
The engagements brought together parents, teachers, and community and district-level stakeholders to discuss practical measures to end child marriages and safeguard the rights of children.
Madam Nibaradun stressed that parenting transcends childbirth to assuming the responsibility of caring for their proper growth and development.
She cautioned parents against giving out their children for marriage, noting that it was punishable by law.
She observed that providing girls with necessities such as sanitary pads and school needs could help prevent them from engaging in risky behaviours that could lead to teenage pregnancy and child marriage.
She appealed to the state through the district stakeholders to strengthen policies and enforcement mechanisms against child marriage.
Naa Dery Gandaa, the statement Headteacher of the Kpare Basic School, expressed concern over the high rate of school dropout, particularly among girls, with some opting for apprenticeship programmes instead of education.
Ms Fedilia Anaada, a member of the school’s Girls’ Club at Kpare, appealed to parents to attach equal importance to the education of girls and boys, as families prioritised male education over female education.
Another club member, Ms Favour Monten, called for stricter sanctions against perpetrators of child marriage, to serve as a deterrent to others.
Mr Saed Subur, a Lamussie District Officer of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), educated participants on laws prohibiting child marriage and the consequences perpetrators could face.
He, therefore, urged the people to report child marriage cases to the commission for appropriate action to be taken.
On his part, Mr Seidu Amadu, Lambussie District Director of Social Welfare and Community Development, described child marriage as a persistent challenge in some communities.
He also cautioned parents against introducing children to apprenticeship at very young ages, as that could affect their concentration in school and increase the risk of dropping out.
The engagements created a platform for the stakeholders to discuss the driver of child marriage, identify community-led solutions and secure their commitment to ending the menace.
The initiative was in line with Strategic Priority Two (SP2) of AAG’s Country Strategy Paper VII (2023-2028), which focused on Women’s Rights and Decent Work.
Focus Area 2.1 of the SP2 advocates for zero tolerance for violence against women and girls.
Also, the intervention sought to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5.3) on achieving gender equality.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Philip Tengzu
Email : [email protected]