By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Stakeholders in education, child protection and youth development have renewed calls for zero tolerance for child marriage, describing the practice as a major threat to girls’ education, health and future prospects.
At a programme in Accra to mark the International Day of the Girl Child on the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” participants urged community leaders, parents and educational institutions to work together to protect girls and prioritise education over early marriage.
The event brought together officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES), development partners, civil society organisations, teachers and students to discuss practical measures to eliminate child marriage, address sexual harassment in schools and empower girls through education.
Participating schools included Accra High School, Labone Senior High School (SHS), Accra Girls’ SHS and the host institution, Forces Senior High Technical School.
The programme was organised by CAMFED Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and partners to raise awareness about the dangers of child marriage and promote girls’ rights.
Madam Habiba Kotonah, Director of the La Dade-Kotopon Directorate of the GES, said the Service maintained a firm policy of zero tolerance for child marriage.
“When a girl is married off and her education ends, her dreams are cut short. Her health is put at risk. Her future is stolen,” she said.
Madam Kotonah stressed that child marriage should not be justified as part of Ghanaian culture, describing it instead as a barrier to the development and advancement of girls.
“Investing in girls’ rights means investing in their education. It means keeping our girls in school, providing safe and supportive learning environments, and ensuring they complete their education with dignity and confidence,” she added.
Sharing her personal experience, Madam Kotonah recounted how, as a pupil in Bole in the Savannah Region, she was inspired by a female political leader she encountered.
The experience, she said, motivated her to pursue her educational ambitions and eventually rise to become an education director.
She encouraged girls to remain focused on their goals regardless of their background or circumstances.
Madam Gifty Asiedu, Director of the Girls’ Education Unit of the GES, said that although Ghana had made significant progress in girls’ education, child marriage and teenage pregnancy continued to deny many girls the opportunity to complete their schooling.
“Despite all the policies and measures put in place, we still have girls being confronted with issues that take them out of school. Child marriage is one,” she said.
Madam Asiedu said ending child marriage required collective action by parents, communities, schools and development partners.
“The world today will not accept child marriage. We are saying not only that child marriage must end, but also that our schools must be safe and child-friendly environments where every child can attain his or her full potential,” she stated.
She underscored the need to intensify efforts to ensure that no girl was left behind in accessing quality education.
Madam Emelia Ayipio Asamoah, Head of Workforce Development at the Mastercard Foundation, encouraged girls to know their rights, speak up and take advantage of opportunities available to them.
She urged them not to allow their circumstances or place of birth to limit their ambitions.
“Know your rights. Every girl has the right to learn, to be seen, to be heard and to pursue her aspirations,” she said.
Madam Asamoah also encouraged girls to seek mentors, build their skills and actively participate in decisions affecting their lives.
She said empowering girls to become leaders and agents of positive change was essential to building stronger and more inclusive communities.
Madam Fairuz Abdul-Rasheed Safian, Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana, said every girl deserved a childhood free from child marriage, access to quality education and the freedom to shape her own future.
“Investing in girls’ rights is not an act of charity; it is a commitment to equality, justice, human dignity and national development,” she said.
She called on stakeholders to deepen collaboration to protect girls from harmful practices and ensure they had access to opportunities needed to realise their full potential.
“Together, let us end child marriage, protect every girl’s right, and invest in a future where every girl can learn, lead and thrive,” Madam Safian said.
Participants also discussed sexual harassment in schools and the growing influence of social media on young people, stressing the need for safe and supportive learning environments where girls could thrive academically and socially.
During group discussions and plenary sessions, students shared their views on child marriage, teenage pregnancy and sexual harassment, and proposed practical measures to address the challenges.
The students pledged to serve as ambassadors against child marriage in their schools and communities while advocating girls’ rights to education, protection and equal opportunities.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Email: [email protected]