The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, through its Child Marriage Unit, held a media engagement in the Northern Zone to discuss the ongoing issue of child marriage in Ghana.

The forum focused on how the media can assist in the fight against child marriage, particularly through the use of the National Child Marriage Information Portal.

The Head of the Child Marriage Unit, Hajia Saphia Tamimu addressed participants and highlighted the progress made in reducing the prevalence of child marriage in Ghana.

“The practice of child marriage has declined significantly, from about 40 per cent in the 1980s to 19.3 per cent in 2018,” she said.

Despite this reduction, she emphasized that challenges remain, particularly as one in five girls in Ghana still enter into marriage or informal unions before the age of 18.

Tamimu pointed to adolescent pregnancy as a key driver of child marriage, with 15.3 per cent of girls aged 15 to 19 have either given birth or are currently pregnant.

She stressed that gender inequality, rooted in patriarchy and social norms, remains a significant barrier to further progress.

“Two in ten adolescent pregnancies proceed to marriage, which highlights the interlinked nature of these issues,” she said.

In addition to the statistics, Safia acknowledged the existence of legal frameworks designed to combat child marriage but noted that the practice persists.

“Despite the laws in place and penalties for offenders, the practice continues,” she added.

She cited data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which revealed that over 120,000 children aged 12 to 17 in Ghana were either married or living with a partner.

A key part of the Ministry’s efforts to tackle child marriage is the National Child Marriage Information Portal, launched in 2021.

The portal serves as a resource for reliable data on child marriage and a platform for people to report instances in their communities.

She highlighted that the portal was established in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to accelerate the elimination of child marriage in Ghana by 2030.
“Since its launch, the portal has been a tool in centralizing information on child marriage,”.

However, she noted that the portal has not been fully utilized due to inadequate contributions from various stakeholders.

“We need more stories and data to make the portal active and effective in achieving our goal,” she stated.

The Ministry is urging journalists and other media practitioners to actively engage with the portal and help disseminate accurate information to the public.

Senanu Agbozo, the Consultant for the Child Marriage Information Portal at UNFPA Ghana, also addressed the gathering.

He spoke about the importance of the portal in centralizing child marriage data and combating conflicting reports from different organizations.

“There are many reports about child marriage across the country, but they are often inconsistent. The portal aims to provide a single, reliable source of information,” Agbozo explained.

He emphasized that the portal is not only a data repository but also a platform for collaboration among various stakeholders, including the police, NGOs, and the media.

Agbozo also outlined the portal’s various features, which include a database of partners working on child marriage issues, educational materials, and a guide on how to report child marriage cases.

“The portal should be the go-to place for anyone seeking information on child marriage,” Agbozo said.

Agbozo further elaborated on the portal’s security measures to protect the data and ensure its reliability.

“We are committed to keeping the data safe and accurate, so we can track our progress and address any gaps in our efforts,” he stated.

During the engagement, journalists were encouraged to use the portal as a resource when reporting on child marriage issues.

“We need you, the media, to help us spread the message about child marriage and ensure that accurate information reaches every corner of the country,” Safia urged the participants.

Ama Nyanta Boateng, the Regional Acting Head of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in Ashanti,  

She emphasized that child marriage is a significant form of violence that must be eradicated. 

“Children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood and not be burdened with adult responsibilities before they are fully grown and matured.” 

While the issue is prevalent in the Upper Regions, Ashanti is also witnessing its own share of such harmful practices.

She continued, “The conversation against child marriage must not end here. We must continue to advocate and raise awareness, sensitizing communities so that those who are still hiding behind these harmful practices realize that it is not the right way to allow children to grow.”

Ama Nyanta Boateng mentioned the need for sustained advocacy to ensure children can live freely, without the pressures and consequences of early marriages, and be allowed to grow into their full potential.