Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I, Queen of the Royal Adibiawe and President of the Ada Queen Mothers’ Consortium, has called for an end to child marriage, urging stakeholders to protect girls and promote their rights and development.
She made the call during a campaign to mark the International Day of the Girl Child at Kasseh in the Ada East District, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
The event sought to raise awareness of the need to protect girls from child marriage and promote their education, rights and overall development.
Naana Adi, who is also the founder of the Manyeyo Adi Foundation, called for greater commitment from parents, traditional authorities, educational institutions and other stakeholders to safeguard girls and create opportunities for their advancement.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), she said Ada was no exception to the challenges of child marriage, urging society to recognise the potential of girls beyond marriage.
“It is unfortunate that when any man sees a young girl, the only thing that comes to mind is marriage. We must also see doctors, presidents, lawyers and great leaders in our beautiful girls, not marriage,” she said.
She urged parents to protect their daughters even when faced with financial difficulties, saying the sacrifices made to keep girls safe and in school would benefit them in the future.
“Today, they may suffer, but they will praise you for protecting them when they grow up,” she said.
She also distributed sanitary pads to all female students and teachers present, as well as snacks to all participants.
Mr Ferguson Akey, Ada East District Director of Education, urged schoolgirls to conduct themselves responsibly and remain focused on completing their education, saying their commitment to education would help them earn respect and resist distractions.
Madam Faustina Blewusi, also known as Mama Magbenya II, Ada East District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said ending child marriage was a constitutional, civic, moral and human rights responsibility.
She urged men to protect girls rather than undermine their future, reminding the public that ignorance of the law was no excuse.
The event was organised in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, Side-by-Side School and other partners.
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11 to highlight challenges facing girls and promote the protection of their rights.