Muslim women in Ghana have appealed to Imams and parents to consider the marriage laws in Islam to allow them marry men of their choice. Muslim women must also not be forced into marriage at tender ages and must be given enough space to marry at their chosen time, they added. Early marriages to older men, for instance, sometimes resulted in breakdown of such marriages, they stressed. The women expressed these views at the Ghana Muslim Academy's (GMA) Ninth Annual Sisters' forum held last Saturday in Accra. It had the theme, "Strengthening Family Values in Ghana, the Role of the Muslim Women.'" The forum was aimed at highlighting issues confronting Muslim women and how they can be dealt with to enable them contribute their quota to national development. Ms. Ramatu Baba a member of the Academy and CEO of Fatcom Forex Bureau, said an educated woman could be an entrepreneur, setting up businesses to help the family aside her normal responsibilities. Ms. Baba said "most Muslim are doing well in the families but their efforts are not being acknowledged. She noted that "most of them are being discouraged from furthering their education with the reason that being that some their place is in the kitchen, nurturing the children as well as servants to the society The CEO said such perception should be changed to enable Muslim women to use their talents to help society. Ms. Shankiratu Yekeen Akande, computer analyst, reiterated that Muslim women should be allowed to marry men of their choice, noting that "most women are being withdrawn from school to be given out to men who are old enough to be their fathers or grandfathers, making them miserable." Ms. Akande said such marriages lacked communication, leading to marriage breakdown or mistrust in the family. Samira Sulley, a participant, expressed her gratitude to the GMA for helping them know how to blend their career with marriage. She urged fellow Muslim women to strive to fight for their rights and expressed the hope that the forum could be organized twice annually. Source: Samuel Sam/Times