The Child Marriage Unit under Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, in collaboration with UNFPA and UNICEF, hosted a two-day Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting in the Ashanti Region. The meeting focused on reviewing interventions from the past year, assessing progress, and ensuring alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of eradicating child marriage by 2030.
Key Outcomes and Updates
During the session, stakeholders validated the National Operational, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan for 2025-2026, a crucial component of the Ghana National Strategic Framework to End Child Marriage (2017-2026). The updated plan seeks to guide collaborative efforts aimed at safeguarding the rights and futures of Ghanaian girls.
In her opening remarks, Madam Safia Tamimu, Head of the Child Marriage Unit, highlighted the profound human rights implications of child marriage and its detrimental effects on girls’ health, education, and economic prospects.
“The Ministry has recently initiated studies on social protection and gender-transformative social behavior change to address gaps and enhance the effectiveness of interventions,” she said, urging stakeholders to sustain their commitment to empowering every girl across Ghana.
Alarming Statistics
Representatives from UNICEF and UNFPA, Madam Joyce Odame and Madam Doris Aglobitse, shared concerning data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which revealed that over 120,000 children aged 12-17 years in Ghana are in marriages or cohabiting relationships.
Collaborative Approaches
Both organizations emphasized the importance of engaging diverse groups, including men, boys, and traditional leaders, to foster community-level change. They reiterated their commitment to scaling up support for initiatives promoting girls’ empowerment and education.
Challenges and Ongoing Interventions
According to the Annual Results and Phase II of the Global Programme, child marriage continues to disproportionately affect girls, limiting their opportunities and exposing them to significant social and health risks.
The Ministry and its partners are implementing targeted interventions, including:
- Community Engagement: Sensitization programs involving families, local leaders, and policymakers.
- Empowerment Initiatives: Providing educational and vocational opportunities for at-risk girls.
- Behavior Change Campaigns: Promoting gender-transformative norms to challenge the socio-cultural drivers of child marriage.
A Call to Action
The meeting underscored the urgent need for multi-sectoral collaboration to accelerate efforts to end child marriage in Ghana. As the 2030 target approaches, stakeholders vowed to deepen their commitment to ensuring that every girl has the freedom to make informed decisions about her life and future.
This strategic gathering reaffirms Ghana’s determination to uphold the rights of girls and fulfill global commitments to gender equity and child protection.
