Durbar on child marriage held at Gomoa Dawurampong

Gomoa Dawurampong (C/R) Aug. 02, GNA – Pupils in Gomoa Dawurampong have called on stakeholders to promote and protect the rights and welfare of the Ghanaian child.

“We need protection against early marriage and rights to freedom from violence, abuse, hazardous forms of work, have adequate health care and education to the highest level as well as to express our opinions on matters concerning us.”

The call was made by selected members of Child Protection Clubs in schools in the area in a recitation of their rights at a durbar organised by International Needs-Ghana.

The project dubbed Protection, Employment and Community Action against Child Marriage (PECACEM) at Gomoa Dawurampong in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region was on the theme: “Getting together to end child marriage: The Role of stakeholders”.

It was sponsored by UNICEF.

The durbar was to sensitise the community members especially parents who are key culprits when it comes to issues of child marriage, to say “NO” to child marriage and support children with their limited resources to be well-informed in society.

The children pleaded with government to ensure that treaties and conventions on children’s rights that have been ratified were fully implemented to ensure their wellbeing.

Ms. Lely klotey, Project Coordinator of International Needs-Ghana, said PECACEM project was being implemented in 16 communities in Gomoa West and Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region.

The project, she said, sought to promote and enhance safe and protective environment that would prevent and respond to child marriages and other forms of child protection violations.

She quoted a UNFPA report, which classified Ghana among countries with high prevalence of child marriage, with one out of every four girls getting married before age 18.

“The Central Region has a child marriage prevalence rate of 32.1 percent, which is well above the national average of 27 percent, and this is uncalled for.

“Let us join hands together to fight against child marriage and create a conducive environment for them to have a solid, dynamic and future manpower for the country,” she stated.

Chief Inspector Michael Nkekesi of the Gomoa Dawurampong Police Station advised community members who indulged in the acts to put a stop to it, saying it was criminal to give out a child below 18 years for marriage.

Madam Eunice Akoro, a Circuit Supervisor of Ghana Education Service, and Mr. Benjamin Noah Gomoa, the Gomoa West District Social Welfare Officer in their address, called on parent to prioritise the education of their children, saying, children were the future and their welfare should be paramount to enable them to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Nana Kow Akom Obbatan of the Traditional Council, said child marriage impeded children’s education, exposed them to abuses and increased their risk of maternal mortality among others; and called for all hands to be on deck to fight the menace.

GNA

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