Kurima, who hails from Dorimon in the Upper West Region of Ghana, is a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and an advocate against the practice.

She has disclosed that her clitoris was cut off when she was just a week-old baby, as she speaks up to help change the status quo.

Speaking to media personality Serwaa Amihere, Kurima revealed that it was while she was in Islamic Senior High School that she first noticed that the clitoris of women from northern Ghana differed from that of women from southern Ghana.

She said she noticed the difference when they went to the washroom to bathe and she saw the difference among the girls.

After noticing the difference, Kurima said she confided in a male teacher, who explained to her that part of her clitoris had been cut off as part of Female Genital Mutilation.

She said she returned home angry and questioned her mother about why her clitoris had been cut off.

Kurima’s mother then disclosed to her that part of her clitoris had been removed when she was a week-old baby.

She said she fully understood that she was an FGM survivor when she was around 15 to 16 years old.

“I made him (her teacher) to know that whenever we go into the washroom, I realised that southern ladies’ clitories is longer than the northern ladies. Then he told her that they have taken part of my clitoris away.

"He sat me down to explain the effects I would be facing when I grow. That was when I got back home with annoyance to ask my mom, and I am from a royal home, why they took parts of the clitoris, and she said they did it when I was a week old.

‘I never experienced sexual pleasure until my clitoris was repaired’ - FGM survivor recounts

“Not just taking the clit, they gave me tribal marks on my tummy because I am part of the royal family. When I was a week old, they did that to me. I got to know I was a survivor when I was 15-16 years,” she shared.

Kurima further explained that there are four types of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), but in Ghana, Type 1 is what is commonly practised, where the tip of the clitoris is removed.

“If you come to Ghana here, they practice Type 1. They take just the tip of the clitoris, the pointed part that gives pleasure. It will be hanging there, but it will not be sensitive,” she explained.

She also recounted a conversation with her mother, who told her that FGM had been practised on several generations of women in their family and that the practice would continue.

“She said, ‘Madam, they have done it to your great-grandmother, they did it to your grandmother, even your senior sister, you, and we are still going to do it.’ And I said, ‘Mummy, do you know the side effects of what you are telling me?’ She was so bold enough to take me to the woman who took the clit off,” she noted.

However, while speaking up and advocating against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, Kurima said authorities took her to Benin to have her damaged clitoris repaired.

She said she is now able to experience sexual pleasure and added that she has learnt that victims of FGM can also have the procedure done at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where, according to her, such repairs are also carried out.



AK/AM