Child Marriage: Victim of reported case in UER to receive support soon

Stakeholders working to end child marriages in the Upper East Region are tirelessly ensuring that victims, especially girls who have suffered such circumstances, are supported to remain focused in their identified skill areas.

Two cases were reported in the region last year, and while stakeholders worked to sensitize them, there were plans to help sustain them in identified fields of learning.

The Child Marriage Unit of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has the primary objective of increasing awareness, enhancing knowledge of the dangers of child marriages, and ensuring gender equality. They do so by ensuring that improved linkages are made to safeguard victims delivered from early marriages and also ensuring they either remain in school or learn a trade.

Mr. James Twene, Upper East Regional Director in charge of women, spoke to the Ghana News Agency as part of a follow-up to early marriage cases recorded in the region. He said some basic things are needed to support one of the girls to remain in skill training.

“After a visit to one of the victims, we have taken note of the needs of one of the girls, and we are working with partners to support and sustain her in the course of her skill training, which has started,” he said.

The Director said that although there had not been funding this year, a follow-up on some boys’ clubs formed in thirty-six (36) communities in six districts of the region in the fight against child marriage had been made to check their activities and child marriage prevention plans.

He said only one case in the Bolgatanga Municipality was awaiting intervention, as partners were working to ensure its success.

Mr. Twene also added that his outfit was in touch with the leaders of the clubs regarding their plans and progress made.

In 2014, the government of Ghana accepted the call to end child marriage in the country in accordance with international conventions and declarations, and it took strategies to do so across the country.