She said child marriage deprived girls of their childhood, disrupted their education and undermined their chances of achieving their aspirations, with lasting consequences for their future.
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The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Director of Education, Ms Habiba Kotonah, has declared a zero-tolerance stance on child marriage, calling on parents, teachers and community leaders to intensify efforts to protect girls’ rights and ensure they remain in school.
She said child marriage deprived girls of their childhood, disrupted their education and undermined their chances of achieving their aspirations, with lasting consequences for their future.
Ms Kotonah made the call at an event to mark the International Day of the Girl Child at Forces Senior High Technical School in Accra on October 19.
The event, held on the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,”was organised by CAMFED Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), with support from the Mastercard Foundation and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE).
Ms Kotonah urged parents to prioritise their daughters’ education and provide the support they need to complete school and pursue their ambitions.
She also called on female teachers, particularly those at the senior high school level, to serve as mentors and guide girls through the academic, social and personal challenges they might encounter.
She stressed the need for safe school environments where girls could report sexual harassment and abuse without fear of blame, stigma or judgement.
She further encouraged girls to remain focused on their education, build their confidence and take advantage of opportunities available to them.
The Director of the GES Girls’ Education Unit, Ms Gifty Asiedu, said girls continued to face challenges, including early marriage, harassment, discrimination and limited access to education.
She explained that protecting girls’ rights required access to quality education, safe learning environments and the freedom to make informed decisions about their lives.
Ms Asiedu called for greater investment in skills training, mentorship, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to equip girls for the future.
She urged stakeholders to identify and remove barriers that prevented girls from completing their education and becoming economically independent.
According to her, empowering girls required a collective commitment to ensuring they had the resources, protection and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.
The Head of Workforce Development at the Mastercard Foundation, Ms Emelia Ayipio Asamoah, encouraged girls to understand their rights, develop practical skills and build the confidence to speak up when necessary.
She urged them to seek mentors, explore available opportunities and support one another in pursuing their goals.
Ms Asamoah also called on institutions and development partners to create safe spaces for girls and expand access to learning, leadership development and employment opportunities.
She stressed that a girl’s background should not determine her future, adding that investment in education and practical skills could prepare young women for employment and entrepreneurship.
The Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana, Ms Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian, said child marriage deprived girls of their childhood, disrupted their education and restricted their choices in life.
She emphasised that every girl had the right to learn, be protected, have her voice heard and determine her future.
Ms Safian described investment in girls’ rights as a commitment to equality, justice and human dignity rather than an act of charity.
She said CAMFED continued to promote girls’ education and young women’s leadership to ensure that poverty did not determine their future prospects.
She called for concerted action by parents, schools, communities and institutions to end child marriage and guarantee every girl access to education, protection and opportunities to fulfil her potential.
The event reinforced calls for stronger collaboration among families, educators, government institutions and development partners to address the challenges facing girls and create an environment in which they could learn, thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
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