Accra, June 28, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), and other stakeholders have been called upon to initiate effective interventions towards the elimination of child marriage in Ghana.

The Ghana Media Advocacy Programme (G-MAP), a child rights organisation, which made the call,

said the practice affects the development of girls and often results in premature pregnancy and social

isolation. A statement signed by Mr Abdul Malik Jeleel, Executive Director of G-MAP and copied to the Ghana

News Agency, reminded Ghanaians that child marriage contravenes the universal declaration of human

rights. It expressed worry that child marriages are on the ascendancy in the northern part of the country

due to obsolete cultural practices. The statement said it is wrong for people to hide behind religion and engage in child marriage,

adding: "Our research revealed that certain ethnic groups practice this forced marriage under the

banner of religion." It called on Ghanaians to uphold the international convention on the Elimination of All forms of

Discrimination against Women. The statement said child marriage is not limited to Ghana and cited the 2009 State of the World

Children's Report, which indicated that West and Central Africa experienced high prevalence of the

practice. It appealed to all heads of religious bodies to sensitise their members on the need to stop child

marriage and other obsolete cultural practices that impede the progress of women. The statement charged the security agencies, particularly the Domestic Violence and Victim

Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service to enforce laws against the abuse of the rights of women. It asked the Media to sustain its watchdog role and expose negative practices that could retard the

development of women.