Betrothal and elopement of girls in Bawku

Zebilla (UER), April 06, GNA - Early betrothal and elopement with girls is still being practiced in Bawku West District due to high poverty rate in the area and the desire of parents to collect high priced dowry from prospective in-laws.

This was contained in a research conducted by the Management of World Vision Ghana and released at a two-day workshop to sensitise stakeholders in community development about the NGO and its operations. The workshop was attended by chiefs, stakeholders in the communities, heads of departments and opinion leaders.

It formed part of the NGO's 15-year Child Educational sponsorship and other development programmes which begins this year. Mr Joseph Ayembilla of World Vision Ghana said women in the area had limited access to micro-credit due to the politicisation of the micro credit scheme "because some of the women in the area said they were denied the credit because they did not belong to a particular political party".

He said during the research it was realised that there was high intake of the local gin, 'akpeteshi' and a high rate of migration of the youth to the southern sector of the country. The area was also found to have high illiteracy rate, poor sanitation, inadequate potable water and desertification as some of the developmental challenges.

Mr Desmond Bugbila, Bawku West District Chief Executive, said the assembly was ready to partner the NGO for accelerated development. He said the assembly had spent 10,000 Ghana cedis to provide office accommodation for the NGO and appealed to other NGOs to partner the assembly for development.

Mr David Salifu, Northern Sector Director of World Vision Ghana explained that it extended its programmes to the area to assist development.

He said Korean Government would sponsor the child educational programme that would cater for 3,000 school children.