Christian Association to fight against child marriage

Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - Young Women’s Christian Association of Ghana (Y.W.C.A) has expressed concern about the rate at which child marriage was increasing in Ghana and called on the authorities to address the issue.

The Y.W.C.A said child marriage is a total infringement of the girl- child’s right’s including access to education.

Mrs Vera Naana Appiah, the President of the Y.W.C.A, Ghana, urged Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), parents, teachers, traditional leaders, as well as the media to take the issue up as a major responsibility and educate the public on the need to fight child marriage.

She said the association would embark on a door to door campaign, especially in the rural areas, to educate the public on the need to fight against child marriage.

Child marriage has become a canker, especially in the northern part of the country, where it is estimated that 34 per cent of girls marry before the age of 18, according to a report released by Amnesty International.

The association also seeks to fight against any gender based violence, which according to the association, is becoming common in the country.

Mrs Mercy Owusu Duah, the vice president of the Y.W.C.A, also urged parents to educate their girl child to better their future, instead of forcing them into early marriages, especially to older men.

She said: “Child marriage is disrupting girl’s education and a violation of the girl’s right”, and emphasised the need to put in measures to end the practice.

Mrs Duah said, it was time for the government to reinforce the child protection agencies, such as the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Department of Social Welfare to adequately protect the rights of the individual.

She urged all girls, who fell victims of early marriages to seek help from appropriate agencies so that measures would be taken against the perpetrators.

GNA

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