Let’s deal with child marriage — Appiah
The Executive Director of Child’s Right International, Mr Bright Appiah, has called on all stakeholders to help deal with child marriage in the country.
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According to him, early marriage denies a girl of her childhood, disrupts her education, increases her risk of abuse and jeopardises her future.
For that reason, he said it was necessary for the country to take a serious view of the issue and find ways of tackling it.
Mr Appiah made the call at a ceremony held in Accra last Saturday as part of activities marking this year’s Day of the African Child, which falls on June 16.
The day is celebrated every year by member states of the African Union (AU) and its partners to recall the 1976 uprising in Soweto when a protest by schoolchildren in South Africa against apartheid-inspired education resulted in the killing of young protesters by police officials.
The event, which was moderated by children, also featured a drama on child marriage which portrayed the negativity of such practice on children, especially girls who are pushed into early marriage.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) indicates that Ghana has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world.
The programme which was organised by Compassion International-Ghana (CIGH), a child advocacy organisation, was on the theme: “25 years after the adoption of the African Children’s Charter: Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in Africa.”
Collective responsibility
In dealing with the problem, Mr Appiah said policy makers, traditional and religious leaders, parents and concerned individuals should be on board with one voice to help stop child marriage.
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He added that the social protection must be effective to have data on the number of children being pushed into such act and deal with it.
He advocated for children to be educated, stressing that education is one of the best strategies for protecting girls against child marriage. He added: “To successfully effect positive change, collective responsibility and action are essential.”
Protect the girl child
In a speech read on her behalf, the Programme Manager for CIGH, Ms Florence Sena Amponsah, said child marriage was a crime against children and humanity.
She pointed out that the upsurge of child marriage could only hold back the development of women and girls.
Commenting on the theme, she said it was a clarion call for all parents, religious, political and traditional leaders to demonstrate great commitment to combat all forms of cultural practices that were inimical to children and infringed on their rights and freedom.
On the celebration of the event, Ms Amponsah said, “As Ghanaians, whether we are in government, are individuals or civil society, we must consider a common platform to deliberate and find solutions to the plight of the African child, particularly the Ghanaian child.
The time has come for us to formulate policies and programmes that protect and advance the human rights of children and develop their talents and capacities.”
