Paramount Chief of Bongo condemns FGM

Bongo(UER), Aug.15, GNA - Bo-Naba Baba Alamyarim, Paramount Chief of Bongo Traditional Area in the Upper East Region, has condemned negative cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Widowhood rites, forced marriages and tribal marks being practiced by some communities in the area.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Bongo on Tuesday, Naba Alamyarim said he had instituted discussions with his elders on plans to stop such practices, saying, "they are outmoded and barbaric".

He explained that many citizens in the area had suffered severe consequences through such practices and cited instances where most of the women through FGM had either become barren or were being infected with HIV/ AIDS.

Naba Alamyarim warned communities that were engaged in such practices to desist from them otherwise culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.

He called on sub-chiefs in the area to ensure that such acts were eliminated from their communities.

Naba Alamyarim commended FIDA for fighting against the practice and appealed to other organisations to emulate FIDA. He said the traditional council would soon embark on durbars and sensitization programmes in the communities to educate the people on the harmful effects of these practices.