Burohaane (B/A) Feb. 10 GNA - Mrs. Clare Banoeng-Yakubu, a representative of Ghana Association of Women Welfare (GAWW) has called for a greater commitment to ensure the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the country.
She was speaking at a forum at Burohaane in Wenchi District of Brong Ahafo to mark the International Day on Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
The programme was organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in conjunction with GAWW and sponsored by Action Aid Ghana, an NGO.
It had the theme, "Joint Action to Accelerate the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation".
The GAWW is the National Committee of the Inter-African Committee (IAC) on traditional practices affecting the health of women and children, an NGO operating in 26 African countries and working to eliminate harmful traditional practices and encouraging beneficial ones. Mrs Banoeng-Yakubu urged the government, parliamentarians, UN agencies, NGOs, the donor community, religious and community leaders and the youth to put in greater efforts to help eliminate the obnoxious practice.
She explained that the celebration of the Day was aimed at helping to free women and girls from the tradition and to accelerate action towards its elimination.
Madam Juliana Amponsah, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of National Council on Women and Development, emphasized that FGM was a harmful traditional practice against the development of females.
The practice is against the rights and dignity of women and girls, she said and dismissed the notion that the practice was a doctrine, explaining, "A tradition that is harming the society must be wiped out". Madam Paulina Bazaabon, District Public Health Nurse at Wenchi in a demonstration pointed out that the gruesome traditional practice was in four types and called on the general public to help stop the practice, since it was a hazard to health.
Imam Mahamadu on behalf of the Chiefs and people of Burohaane gave assurance of the elimination of the practice adding that anyone caught indulging in it would be severely dealt with.
