KUMASI: About two in every 10 children between the ages of 10 and 19 are in cohabitation or marriage, with the national prevalence rate of child marriage currently standing at 19 percent. The harmful practice is robbing many girls of their education, health, and future-a situation that requires the collective efforts of key stakeholders to address.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Ghana Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is seeking the support of the National House of Chiefs in ending child marriage across the country as custodians of cultural heritage. The UNFPA has called on the House to consider declaring the abandonment of child marriage from the national to the community level to allow young girls to reach their potential.
Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Country Representative for UNFPA in Ghana, emphasized the importance of the chiefs’ roles in ending child marriage, highlighting the structured influence they hold from the national level to the village and household levels. This influence can
be pivotal in mobilizing the population for social transformation and economic development. Dr. Ochan, during his visit to the House in Kumasi, implored the chiefs to lead in declaring the abandonment of child marriage to support global efforts against the practice.
He further noted that cultural and traditional institutions are not just remnants of the past but are dynamic forces for development. These institutions evolve to preserve the people while documenting their rich history and traditions. Dr. Ochan stressed that child marriage could hold back societal development and progress, stating that supporting girls’ education would ensure the rise of empowered young individuals who can contribute to social and economic development.
Dr. Ochan urged the National House of Chiefs to make critical decisions to empower the girl child, which could lead to significant development in their traditional areas. He emphasized the importance of collective declarations and enforcement mechanisms to support young girls and
communities.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, President of the National House of Chiefs, commended the UNFPA and its partners for their efforts to end child marriage and pledged the House’s commitment to combating the issue. However, he expressed concerns over the reported prevalence rate of child marriage in Ghana and encouraged the UNFPA to further investigate these figures, describing them as potentially misleading.