By Bertha Badu-Agyei
Accra, Oct 14, GNA – Young school girls from across the country have called for strengthening of state support to end child marriage which was robbing many young girls of a bright future.
At a symposium organised by Plan International Ghana, to commemorate the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, some young schoolgirls noted that even though there had been measures to end child marriage, it persisted in some communities in Ghana.
That, they emphasized called for a renewed strategy and appealed to government to upscale interventions to tackle it, to allow girls to take advantage of the several educational policies to empower them to thrive.
Ms Winifred Baveng, a first-year student of Wa Senior High School and a mentee of Plan International ‘She Leads’ programme, said a lot of girls had gotten married just after the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) thereby denied the opportunity to take advantage of the Free Senior High School policy.
“I am in SHS because my father believes in empowering the girl child and benefits of education but most of my mates have been married just after the BECE and I think that government must do more to protect girls in such communities,” she said.
She also called for intensive education to create the awareness of the consequences of child marriage and using mentorship and role models as tools to reach out to young girls in communities where child marriage was practiced.
The International day of the Girl Child is one of the milestones celebrated by Plan International to observe the recognition of the right of girls and the unique challenges girls faced around the world.
Over 100 girls from across the country and state actors came together to discuss challenges faced girls as well as what they needed as the country approached the polls, to commemorate the day on this year’s theme “Unite for Peace.”
Mr. Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, called on Ghanaians to ensure that peace prevailed before, during and after the elections for the benefit of all children particularly the girl child.
This, he said, “is non-negotiable the peace we enjoy cannot be taken for granted because our children need peace to Lead, Learn and thrive.”
He encouraged young girls to speak up and engage to stand up for the rights as their rights to thrive were internationally guaranteed and protected.
Madam Larna Christina Del Valle, National Director of World Vision Ghana, said when girls were empowered to lead, the impact was both immediate and far reaching on families, communities and economies.
Studies have shown that providing the appropriate resources and opportunities, about 1.1 billion girls in the world could be empowered to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the world’s development and peace.
GNA