Public Agenda NewsPaperPublic Agenda NewsPaper
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Font ResizerAa
Public Agenda NewsPaperPublic Agenda NewsPaper
Font ResizerAa
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Search
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Follow US
Breaking NewsDevelopment Agenda

Gender Minister appeals to Northern leaders to end child marriage

Latifa Carlos
Last updated: September 4, 2017 12:25 pm
Latifa Carlos
Share
2 Min Read
Otiko Djaba
Otiko Djaba
SHARE

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Afisa Otiko Djaba, has expressed worry about the high level of child marriage in the country, especially in the Northern Region where girls are forced into marriage long before they reach the age of 18.

She therefore appealed to the chiefs and queen mothers of the northern region to assist government to fight against child marriage, child trafficking and child labour, which are issues affecting the secured future of the younger generation.

She said government was committed towards promoting child rights to ensure that the future leaders have access to quality education and welfare.

More Read

Eliminating Intra-African Trade Barriers no Longer Optional – AfCFTA Scribe
Judge reverses Trump administration’s cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University
I’ll hold you to the June 2026 deadline – Mahama to Ofankor–Nsawam road contractor
Draft report on review of Constitution to be ready by October – CRC
GRNMA apologises to Health Minister over attacks

She therefore called on parents and traditional leaders to recognise that child marriage was a violation of human rights that had a devastating impact on both boys and girls.

Child marriage hindered the full potential of the girl-child, as well as the health and well-being of their children which continued to be a major child protection issue facing most African countries.

Patriarchy and gender inequality were underlying factors driving child marriage, saying that it had also been observed that the fear of stigma of teenage pregnancy and the perception that girls were a financial burden to families also encouraged the practice.

She said the government was committed to promoting child rights in line with the legal framework and international treaties of which Ghana is a signatory.

A UNICEF reports shows that, 700 million women living today got married before they turned 18. While more than one in three married before they turned 15.

Available statistics also shows that, child marriage, the practice has been increasing in Upper East region with 39.2percent, Western Region with 36.7percent and Upper West region with 36.3percent.

 

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had, therefore, taken significant steps towards the promotion and coordination of the national initiatives aimed at ending child marriage in Ghana Madam Otiko added.

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

Latest News

Shadows of Empire: The CIA, Kwame Nkrumah, and the Struggle for Ghanaian Sovereignty
September 3, 2025
Empowering Rural Women through environmental justice: GAGGA grantees convene in Accra
September 3, 2025
Birim North District Unveils Medium -Term Development Plan and More…
September 2, 2025
Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo removed
September 1, 2025
ABANTU Engages Unsuccessful Women Parliamentary Candidates to Strengthen Political Participation in Ghana
August 28, 2025
Pakistan unveils 7-point plan for Gaza peace at OIC summit
August 26, 2025
Bagre Dam Spillage claims life of farmer
August 26, 2025

You Might Also Like

Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

Ghana and Nigeria explore electricity for gas barter agreement

August 26, 2025
Breaking NewsGeneral Newstop stories

Ghana drops to 61st in 2025 Global Peace Index

August 26, 2025
Breaking NewsDevelopment AgendaElection watch

Charles Abugre Chairs MiDA Board

August 22, 2025
Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

Ghana cedi is world’s best-performing currency – Mahama tells investors in Japan

August 20, 2025

About Us

Public Agenda is fou­nded and owned by Pu­blic Agenda Communic­ations.

Public Agenda was founded as a public interest Me­dia entity. Its Visi­on is to contribute to building a well-i­nformed society where accurate informati­on dissemination is the cornerstone of a democratic, just and equitable society.

Its mission is to inform, guide and bui­ld responsible citiz­enship and accountab­le decision making and strive for excell­ence in the media in­dustry. Public Agenda Communications is managed by a Board of Directors.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?