CHRAJ worried about forced marriages in Northern region

Tamale, Aug. 27,GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has identified forced marriage as the major human rights abuse in the Northern Region.

Ms Anna Bossman, the acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, who made this known to journalists in Tamale, during her official visit to the Region, said most of the complaints her outfit received from the districts were forced marriages.

"Saboba District alone reported 84 human rights abuse cases, out of which 51 were based on forced marriages," she said, describing the situation as very worrying.

The three-day visit took the Commissioner to Tamale, Gambaga, Walewale, Saboba, Yendi, Bimbilla and Salaga.

Ms Bossman said the Commission was planning to collaborate with stakeholders to find the acceptable cultural solution to the problem. She said the Commission, had this year outlined a policy to improve the quality of services and to be customer friendly through excellence output.

Ms Bossman appealed to the media to focus on issues of human rights abuses, administrative injustice and corruption rather than devoting much time on politics and matters that could disintegrate families. Mr Iddrisu Dajiah, Regional Director of CHRAJ said the local office was collaborating with Non-Governmental Organisations, to ensure that they embark on massive education to sensitize the public on their rights.