Gender Ministry Engages Journalists to Combat Child Marriage in Ghana

Child marriage remains a pressing issue in Ghana and across Africa, fueled by deep-rooted cultural practices, gender inequality, poverty, and lack of education. These practices undermine the rights and potential of children, especially girls, leaving them disadvantaged in society.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, through its Child Marriage Unit, organized a one-day engagement with journalists. The goal was to enlist the media’s support in raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of child marriage, ultimately contributing to its eradication.

Progress and Challenges in Reducing Child Marriage

Speaking at the event, Saphia Tamimu, head of the Child Marriage Unit, highlighted progress made in reducing child marriage in Ghana. She noted that the prevalence of child marriage has significantly declined, from about 40% in the 1980s to 19.3% in 2018. However, challenges persist, as one in five girls in Ghana still enters into marriage or informal unions before the age of 18.

“Child pregnancy is a key driver of child marriage, with 16.3% of girls aged 15 to 19 either being mothers or currently pregnant,” Tamimu revealed. She emphasized that gender inequality, entrenched in patriarchal norms, continues to hinder progress.

The Role of the Media in Combating Child Marriage

Tamimu appealed to journalists to make use of the National Child Marriage Information Portal, a resource developed in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The portal provides accurate data on child marriage and serves as a platform for reporting instances of the practice in communities.

“Despite the existence of legal frameworks and penalties for offenders, child marriage persists,” she said. “We need the media to amplify stories and data to bring this issue to the forefront of public discourse.”

Underutilization of the Portal

Tamimu expressed concern that the portal has not been fully utilized due to inadequate contributions from stakeholders. She urged journalists to actively engage with the platform, noting its potential to centralize information and accelerate efforts to eliminate child marriage in Ghana by 2030.

“We need more stories and data to make the portal active and effective in achieving our goal,” she concluded.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the media and other stakeholders to eliminate child marriage and improve the lives of Ghana’s younger generation.

By Madjid Diallo || GhanaNewsOnline