Public called on to support fight against child marriage
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Satina Aboagye , Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), has called on the public to support the fight against early and force marriages in the society.
She observed that child marriage has increased greatly in the society especially in the rural areas thereby destroying the lives and future of children.
DSP Aboagye made the call at a review meeting jointly organised by DOVVSU, the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).
The meeting, attended by 25 representatives drawn from market women, queen mother’s Associations, media, farmers, religious groups, Ghana Federation of the Physical Challenged, dressmakers and hairdressers and beautician associations, was aimed at assessing performances and challenges of the 25 people.
They were trained to be ambassadors and advocates against early and force marriages of children in their communities.
DSP Aboagye urged the public not to shield perpetrators of such harmful acts, but to assist by reporting at the appropriate quarters for the law to take its course.
She stated that there were laws that dealt with child marriages and DOVVSU would continue to draw educational programes which would be aired to sensitize the public against the practice.
He urged the public to know their rights to be able to resist early and force marriages and advised parent not to neglect their children by pushing them to stay in the homes of those who impregnated them, but rather, they should assist the girls to take care of the babies to enable the teenage mothers to continue with their education.
Some of the participants appealed to the organizers to organize special early and force marriages programes for opinion leaders especially men, to alert them on the harmful effect of the practice, since they were the head and decision makers of the family.
They also called for the implementation of the puberty rights in a very modernised way to check the young girls from engaging in premarital sex.
Source: GNA