Sissala Assembly urges traditional councils to form task forces against child and forced marriages


The Sissala West District Assembly has stressed the importance for the four Traditional Councils in the District to form taskforce to stop child and forced marriages in the area. This was announced by the Sissala West District Coordinating Director, Daniel K.M. Okwaisie at Gwollu in the Upper West Region. 

He was speaking at a project review meeting organized by an NGO, Centre for Development Initiatives (CDI) to evaluate an anti-child marriage project titled “Community Empowerment Against Child Marriage” (CEACM) implemented by the NGO from October 2015 to August 2016 in partnership with traditional authorities and the Sissala West District Assembly with support from UNICEF. 

Radio Ghana’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo writes that the taskforce which will be broad-based per the Sissala West District Assembly’s directive, will be made up of chiefs, assembly members, youth groups and other parties who are interested in the welfare of the girl-child. 

The meeting offered a platform for the stakeholders to discuss the project objectives relative what has been actually accomplished or achieved as a result of CDI and its partners running the CEACM project for eleven months in the Sissala West District. 

Sustaining the gains chalked up vis-à-vis surmounting the challenges associated with the anti-child marriage initiatives were equally tabled at the meeting. 

Mr. Okwaisie intimated that the proposed list of members of the anti-child marriage taskforce will be made available to the District Assembly for inputs. 

Meanwhile, the Gwollu Traditional Council headed by its President, Kuoro Kuri-Buktie Limann has directed sub-chiefs in the paramountcy to report any delopement from their areas of jurisdiction to the Council within three days and that failure to do so will attract a fine of one thousand Ghana Cedis. 

Touching on the achievements, The Executive Director of CDI, Alexis Dery Danikuu intimated that Centre sought to implement the project in ten communities but ended up working in 15 communities as a result of the enthusiasm and support from the stakeholders. 

He mentioned some of the beneficiaries of the awareness and advocacy outreach programs as Gwollu, Fielmuo, Kankandule, Buo, Pulima, Sorbelle, Kunchoo, Nemoro, Kuntolo and Desima. 

Mr. Danikuu was empathic that the project has brought about what he described as “an awaken-awareness” on the issues of child and forced marriages, saying the interactive nature of the CDI’s engagements with the project partners elicited the needed commitment from the people on how to confront the socio-cultural practices that do not benefit society. 

The Executive Director of CDI told Radio Ghana that as part of the sustainability plan, his outfit be organizing refresher courses for peer educators trained under the CEACM project in Senior High Schools. 

The Sissala West District Director of Health, Madam Cecilia Kakariba advised against the practice where school girls who are impregnated are given to the family of the boy to be catered for thereby jeopardizing their future.  

She admonished parents that instead of pushing the impregnated girls into marriage, they should be encouraged to continue their education or learn a trade after giving birth.

GBC