Afrikids Ghana intensify efforts to ending Child Marriage

    

Parents have been advised not to marry out their daughters when they eventually become pregnant but rather allow them to give birth and pursue their education.  

Moreover, parents should ensure that children are enrolled in kindergarten at the right age of 4 and also follow their daily activities especially when they give out excuses to leave home and visit friends. 

These recommendation s came to fore during a community durbar on the protection of children and youth against child marriage at Sheaga in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region. 

The District Girl Child Officer, Mollydean Zong Buntuya, who gave the advice bemoaned the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy and child marriage in the area and cautioned parents not to force their pregnant daughters into marriage because they saw it as a burden taking care of them. 

Marriage issues among basic school girls in the Upper East Region are increasing at an alarming rate. The situation is becoming a source of worry not only to parents but to the GES and Child Right NGOs, particularly Afrikids Ghana. 

In 2014/2015 academic year, fourteen schools in the Talensi District alone recorded 31 marriage issues among teenage girls. 

26 of this figure, were given out for marriage because they were pregnant.

Fortunately, five of these girls were rescued from forced marriage through the collaborative effort of teachers, the GES and Afrikids Ghana among other child right ambassadors. 

Relatively, the district in the 2015/2016 academic year identified 16 basic schools recording another 31 cases of child marriage with twenty of them forced into marriage while pregnant. Interestingly, some girls are still attending school while in their husband’s homes.

 In an effort to curb this unfortunate turn of event, Afrikids Ghana has partnered the Talensi Education Directorate with funding by UNICEF to organize a child right festival on the protection of children and youth against child marriage. 

The event which took a form of a durbar was to drum home the need for parents and stakeholders to be responsive to the education and social needs of the girl child. 

Giving the state of marriage issues among basic school girls in the district, the District Girl Child Officer, Mollydean Zong Buntuya, recounted instances where girls below the ages of 14 and 15 years are forced into marriage against their wish. 

According to experts, factors that contribute to child marriage varies.  

 Some teenage girls, it is established goes into marriage due to poverty and parental neglect because their basic needs are not met.

 There are other social and cultural reasons for girls getting married at their tender age. Some parents as well saw it a disgrace for their daughters to give birth before marriage. 

To this end, the Bolgatanga Area Programmes Manager of Afrikids Ghana, Cletus Anaaya said efforts must be made to tackling the root causes and factors responsible for child marriage.

Afrikids Child Right Festival celebrated on the theme; “Ending Child Marriage, Our Collective Responsibility” brought together stakeholders including traditional rulers and heads of basic schools.

The Chief of Sheaga in a message , Sheaga Naba, Naab Kesem Nam Pehe La're advised parents to make education of their wards a number one priority as it was the only legacy they can bequeath them. 

Sheaga Naba who was much particular about the education of the girl child charged parents to support them in anyway possible to enable them realize their full potentials and become responsible women in future.

He said as the general elections approaches, there was the urgent need for all to shun activities that might mar the beauty of the electoral process.

 The event saw brilliant display of cultural performances including drama, debate and quizzes. 

The Christ the King JHS emerged as the winners in the grand final of the debate competition. 

They outwitted Tongo Beo JHS in a fierce competition on the topic “Child Marriage is caused by parents". 

Participating schools were presented with certificates, books and other stationary.