Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

SOCIAL

Greater Accra Gender office calls for an end to child- marriage

The Greater Accra Regional Office of Gender in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has organized a workshop on the menace of child marriage to educate participants on the linkages between child marriage and its implications at the Ga South Municipal Assembly.

Date Created : 3/23/2021 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Susana Danso/Ghanadistricts.com

The Acting Regional Director of Gender, Madam Matilda Banfro described child marriage as an extreme violation of a child’s rights and a serious form of child abuse which consequently, robs the girl of her childhood, potential, and wellbeing.

She said getting married too young forces girls into physical and emotional relationships they are not ready for, that they have not chosen, and that they have little control over and therefore advised stakeholders to take a keen interest in curbing the canker of Child Marriage in Ghana.

Madam Juliana Abbequaye, the Eastern Regional Director for the Department of Gender in her presentation indicated that child marriage is a global menace that has affected most African countries including Ghana, and has affected the country in diverse ways such as illiteracy, poverty, diseases, and underdevelopment.

She added that in Ghana, the continuous practice of child marriage can be attributed to poverty, entrenched negative traditional and customary beliefs, and practices, lack of formal education, ignorance about the negative effects on the development of the girl child.

Dr. Abena Asamoabea Okoh, also added that if there is no reduction in child marriage, an additional 1.2 billion girls will be married by 2050, and noted that child marriage has dire consequences on the girl-child.

The workshop was attended by Chiefs and opinion leaders in Ngleshie Amanfro, Domeabra, Tuba, and headteachers from selected schools in the Municipality.