Rising Child Marriage Rates in Wa West District Alarm Youth Leaders and Educators

File Photo

The Youth Empowerment for Leadership Foundation (YELF) Ghana-Girls Caucus in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region have voiced serious concerns over the increasing prevalence of child marriage within the district. During a discussion on Info Radio’s Ti Zine Yiri Yele program News Current Affairs program, Madam Yorkyeli Rosemond emphasized the urgent need for parents and guardians to prioritize the education and protection of their children, warning against practices that perpetuate child marriage.

Don A Mahatable, a local basic school teacher, speaking on the program provided insights into the definition of child marriage, explaining that it involves any union where at least one partner is under the age of 18. She detailed the various stages that constitute child marriage, highlighting its complex and multifaceted nature.

Madam Mahatable pointed out that the causes of child marriage are varied, including parental decisions and actions taken by the children themselves. She noted that some parents, upon observing physical signs of development in their daughters, may hastily push them into early marriage, often as a means of societal or economic convenience.

The educator called on multiple stakeholders like teachers, traditional leaders, assembly members, and religious figures to play active roles in combating the menace. She urged collective efforts to protect the rights of young girls and prevent the continued rise of child marriage in the district.

This development underscores the pressing need for community-wide engagement and policy interventions to safeguard the future of vulnerable children in Wa West.