Menji (B/A) June 19, GNA – More than 15 million girls in the world marry before reaching 18 years, a research conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has revealed.
It said girls living in rural areas are the most affected because of poverty and parental neglect more so over 300 million girls worldwide are out of school.
Mr Kwame Afram Denkyira, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Programe’s Officer of Action Aid-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, said this at a girls’ club fair on ending child marriage at Menji, in the Tain District the Brong Ahafo Region.
The event was jointly organized by Action Aid and the Social Development for Improvement Agency (SODIA), and attended by school children drawn from six basic schools in the district.
Mr Denkyira said forced and early marriages are impeding girl child education and measures ought to be stepped to address the problem
He said the Brong-Ahafo Region placed seventh in the country on the table of forced and early marriages and appealed to the general public to support efforts being made by his NGO to fight the concern.
Mr Denyira urged parents to be interested in the education of their children saying education is the only and best legacy they could bestow them.
Madam Mariama Sena, an official at the Tain District’s Gender Office, advised the girls to resist attempts to force them into marriage and concentrate on their education.
She said girls who are lured into early marriage went through several traumatic situations which affected their development process.
Madam Mariama urged the girls not to accept gifts from men who could take advantage of them and ruin their future.
Mr Michael Nsiah, a Circuit Supervisor in the area, called on parents, teachers and all stakeholders in the area to join the fight against early and forced marriages in the District.
GNA
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