||UNFPA country reps meet Hon. Minister||
UNFPA Calls On MCRA for Collaboration to End Child Marriage
The United Nations Populations Funds (UNFPA) has called on the Minister for Chieftaincy and religious Affairs, Hon. Stephen Asamaoah Boateng and Management of the Ministry to collaborate with the organisation in the fight against child marriage in some communities in Ghana.
The Country Representative for Ghana, Dr. Wilfred Ochan said girls who are supposed to be in school are married off at an early age and this ends their future dreams making them either become a grandmother before they turn age thirty (30) and in some cases, these girls develop fistula since their organs are not well developed to make babies.
Dr. Ochan made this call on Friday, 15th September, 2023 when he met with the Minister and Management of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs at the Ministry in Accra to officially introduce himself as the Country Representative of UNFPA as well as discuss issues that would enable the two parties work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), target 5.3 which talks about protection of children’s right by 2030.
He emphasized that the collaboration was important because they believe that the Custodians of the land, “will a lot of power” and can influence change in the communities hence the need to involve the Traditional Leaders to curb this social vice while promoting good customs that enhance Socio-Economic development.
For his part, the Minister, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng indicated that the initiative was a step in the right direction as chieftaincy disputes had blinded the country from focusing on other norms and culture which needs to be discarded in society.
He gave the assurance that his outfit will meet with key stakeholders to map out strategies to curb child marriage and other social vices while ensuring the need for a policy that will address it as well as prevent society from engaging in it. He noted that the young people, especially the girls are the foundation in society hence they need government support and the right environment to grow into future leaders that will push the country forward rather than allow societal norms cut their dreams short.
Source: Public Affairs and Communications Unit, MCRA