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Traditional rulers charged to end child marriages
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- Created on Friday, 12 October 2012 20:18
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Traditional rulers charged to end child marriages
The wife of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has charged traditional authorities to use their positions to help tackle the issue of child marriages.
She said nananom are the appropriate group of people to help stem that practice in the bud because those alliances are always contracted in communities where the traditional rulers are supposed to be safeguarding.
Lady Julia Osei Tutu, speaking during the occasion of the first ever International Day of The Girl Child Thursday, stated that investing in the girl child is one of the smartest investments any nation can make.It was on the theme: Too Young to Marry: End Child Marriage Now. The programme was attended by Queenmothers, Chiefs, Representatives from the United Nations, Ministers of State, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies among others.
The Asantehene’s wife explained that a “good education plus health, plus a caring, supportive and protective environment equals enriched potential and opportunities for young girls.”
She was convinced that when a girl delays marriage everyone benefits – for example, she said a girl who marries later is more likely to stay in school, work and reinvest her income in the family and eventually lead her family and community out of poverty.
“Crucially, a girl who marries later is more empowered to choose whether, when, and how many children to have, she and her family are more educated and healthier,” she maintained.
When every member of the population, including the girl child, has access to health, education and economic opportunities, Lady Julia highlighted the potential for development doubles and the cycle of poverty gets broken.
Since women and children look up to traditional authorities as role models, she observed, “Who else can take up this mantle to end child marriages if not traditional rulers?”
“If we become real advocates, if we stand up for and with our young girls, and on daily basis we educate our communities, I am sure that we will make an impact.”
From: Dorcas Efe Menssah/Myjoyonline.com
