Africa-Press – Ghana. Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) has launched Child Marriage-Free Community Alert Campaign (CM-FCAC) to mobilise support to end forced and early child marriages in the Northern Region.
The campaign, being implemented with funding support from the UNFPA, also seeks to create awareness about the consequences of child marriage and how communities could join forces to end the practice.
Mr Adam Azabre Abugbila, PPAG Projects Coordinator, Northern Zone, who gave details of the campaign during its launch at Katariga in the Sagnarigu Municipality, said child marriage was gradually becoming a major obstacle to sustainable development due to its impact on young girls and communities.
He noted that “This obstacle does not only negatively make their lives difficult but also continue to perpetuate cycles of poverty, low social status, illiteracy and poor adult lives.”
He noted that “To address child marriage and its multifaceted causes such as poverty, gender inequality and discrimination, unhealthy social norms and cultural practices amongst others in communities, a multi-sectoral action is required, and we are contributing to this through the CM – FCAC.”
Mr Maxwell Ayamba, the Project Field Officer, UNFPA Tamale, said child marriage was fast becoming a common practice in most communities, adding that it was a human rights abuse, and must be stopped.
He said, “These young girls need to be educated to make life choices. They need to be taught lifesaving skills and career development paths to contribute meaningfully to the development of their families, our communities and to nation building.”
Tindan Paga Memunatu Issah, the Queen mother of Katariga, pledged her commitment to ensure that girls were not given out in marriage in her community.
She urged traditional authorities to collaborate with other stakeholders to institute measures to stop child and forced marriages in their communities.
Mr Mutawakilu Fuseini, the Health Information Officer, Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate, advised parents to invest in the education of young girls to stop the practice. Similar campaigns were held at Kulnyavila and Tuunayili communities in the Sagnarigu Municipality.
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