NCCE collaborates with UNICEF to eradicate child marriage in Talensi
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is implementing a two-year Child Marriage and Protection Project in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region.
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The beneficiary communities are Balungu, Gorogo, Sheaga, Tongo-Beo and Yameriga.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Talensi District Director of the NCCE, Mr Omar Jafaru Alsadiq, said the project, which was aimed at eliminating child marriage and other forms of abuse, started at the beginning of this year and is scheduled to end by the end of next year.
Consultative meetings
He said at the beginning of the year, the commission held consultative meetings with the district assembly, traditional authorities and opinion leaders, and also held focus group discussions with identifiable groups in the beneficiary communities.
He also said a community durbar, drama and capacity-building training workshop with community actors were organised to develop community action plans which would be harmonised into a district action plan, aimed at eliminating or reducing child marriage and other forms of abuse in the communities.
At a community durbar at Sheaga, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Pontius Pilate Apaaby Baba, urged the beneficiary communities to take ownership of the project and contribute towards its success.
A Senior Civic Education Officer of the NCCE, Madam Rebecca Colecraft, commended the people of Sheaga for contributing towards the project passionately, indicating that it was meant to impact positively on them and also help eradicate or reduce child marriage and other forms of child abuse.
Basic rights
This, according to her, will create an enabling environment for children to access their basic rights and privileges.
An official of UNICEF, Mr Juan A. Mendes, commended officials of the NCCE and the beneficiary communities for contributing towards ending child marriage in the Talensi District.
He said UNICEF was working with other organisations, communities and individuals with the ultimate goal of empowering them to create a safe and protective environment, and for children to access their basic rights to grow into responsible adults and contribute to national development.