CEGRAD Intensify Their High Efforts To Prevent Child Marriage

To combat Ghana’s growing child marriage problem, the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) of the University of Cape Coast has stepped up its efforts.

According to the institution, child marriage had severe negative effects, especially on girls, and as such, it needed to be handled urgently.

In order to raise awareness among Cape Coast Metropolis families about the importance of letting their daughters grow up properly, receive an education or learn a career, and be psychologically prepared for marriage before giving their hand in marriage, the Center has organized an adult symposium.

It was on the theme: “Child Marriage and Adolescent Rights and Gender Equality.”

The Director of CEGRAD, Prof. Eunice Fay Amissah, charged parents to guard against child marriage.

“Child marriage which occurs when a person is forced into marriage or a union before the age of 18, is a harmful traditional practice that robs girls of their education, their health and future,” she explained.

She stated that parents were essential in putting an end to the threat that, in her opinion, deprives many young girls of their promising future.

According to the director, all girls must be given the opportunity to reach their full potential, just like boys.

Before getting married when they were legally eligible, Prof. Amissah advised the teenage girls who attended the workshop to put in a lot of study time to better themselves.

She also urged all parties involved to work twice as hard to eradicate the issue in order to prevent poverty from being passed down through generations and to guarantee the empowerment of girls.

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According to Mrs. Richlove Amamoo, the Central Regional Director of the Department of Gender, child marriage deprives girls of their childhood and numerous rights.

She claimed that child marriage led to family poverty and urged all parties involved to work together to implement policies that would shield girls from the social stigma.