The Bamiri Community Centre in Techiman, Bono East Region, hosted a vibrant gathering of hundreds of schoolgirls, community leaders, and stakeholders to mark this year's International Day of the Girl Child. Organized by the Techiman Municipal Girl Child Coordinator, Mrs Ellen White Opoku, in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES), ActionAid Ghana, and other stakeholders, the event was held under the theme "End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls' Rights."
Mrs Ellen White Opoku, a 2024 Joy Impact Makers Awardee, has been a champion for the girl child in Techiman and beyond. Her tireless efforts have created a safer environment for girls, and her partnership with GES, ActionAid Ghana, and other stakeholders demonstrates her commitment to protecting the girl child's rights.
The event drew notable personalities, including the Presiding Judge of the Techiman Circuit Court, Her Worship Sandra Xorlali Lavison, who served as the Special Guest of Honour. Also present were the Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, respected Queen mothers, and hundreds of girls from basic and senior high schools across the municipality.
Her Worship Sandra Xorlali Lavison emphasized that child marriage is a criminal offence, citing Section 14 of the Children's Act, which specifically speaks against it, and Section 15, which outlines the punishment for giving a child out for marriage. Her remarks served as a stern warning to anyone considering giving their underage daughter out in marriage.
Traditional leaders, including Nana Ama Asantewaa Munufie II, the Hansuahemaa and Baamuhemaa of the Techiman Traditional Council, condemned irresponsible parenting and the practice of giving young girls away in marriage. She expressed bewilderment at how parents could give their 12, 13, and 14-year-old girls out in marriage, attributing the practice to irresponsible parenting.
The Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, urged the participating girls to focus on their education and not marriages, warning that it would affect their lives negatively. He encouraged the girls to envision themselves as future leaders, professionals, and change-makers, reminding them that their dreams are valid and achievable through education.
ActionAid Ghana's Regional Programs Manager, Kwame Afram Denkyira, called for stronger measures to end child marriage and school-related abuses, reinforcing ActionAid's commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of the girl child across Ghana. The event empowered the hundreds of girls who participated, leaving them with a renewed sense of purpose and knowledge about their rights and the laws that protect them.
Key points
- Mrs Ellen White Opoku, Techiman Municipal Girl Child Coordinator and 2024 Joy Impact Makers Awardee, leads the charge against child marriage in Techiman.
- The event drew notable personalities, including the Presiding Judge of the Techiman Circuit Court and the Member of Parliament for Techiman South.
- Stakeholders, including traditional leaders and ActionAid Ghana, call for collective action to end child marriage and invest in girls' rights.
