As the world marks day against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), some victims of the practice in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region are appealing to mothers to save their children from the practice.

The region has the highest prevalence in Ghana and mothers tell Joy News Thursday, that apart from the stigma victims endure, labor becomes very dangerous for those who have gone through the practice.

Joy News Correspondent, Rafik Salam reports that although FGM is not totally abolished from the traditions and customs of the people of the Upper West region, it is currently done on the quiet.

However, some women, who went through the practice, when they are only seven days old, are now unhappy about the practice.  

The United Nations estimates 125 million girls and women in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East, have already gone through FGM. The UN warns if the trend continues, some 86 million young girls worldwide will go through practice by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Communications Advisor at the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry, Mercy Adjabeng tells JoyNews the ministry is collaborating with the Chieftaincy Ministry and community leaders to fight the practice.

According to her, there is a lot of education on the FGM with an accompanying law that criminalizes the practice.

As a result of the on-going sensitization, there has been a reduction in the number of victims, however, an estimated 4% of Ghanaian girls and women between the ages of 16years and 29years, have gone through the practice particularly in the Upper west region, she noted.

The ministry is therefore appealing to the general public to join in the campaign to end the practice of FGM in the country.