Girl 13, raped and forced out of school

Four young girls in the Bidima community in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region, have dropped out of school due to pregnancy.

A 13 -year- old girl faces the same fate after being raped three times and the parents are compelled to keep her at home to protect her.

Bidima, a farming community, is about fifty meters from the West Gonja District capital. So far, no female in the community has completed Senior High School.

The thirteen year old girl in primary six, who is the latest under pressure to drop out of school, was determined to break the jinx and complete Senior High School.

Her teachers say she is the most brilliant pupil and the hope of the community aspiring to be a nurse.

But that hope has been shattered as she has been forced to drop out of school due to pregnancy resulting from rape by a neighbor.

"The guy used to help them at night with lessons so he called her to his room and then when she entered he locked the door and had sex with her. She could not tell her parents because the guy threatened that if she did; she would hurt her. He even threatened to cast a spell on her so she will follow him like a dog. When she finally had the courage to tell her parents; the father decided that she shouldn't go to the school again" a teacher narrated.

But the alleged rapist shamefully told TV3's Eva Atiboka that he is ready to marry the thirteen-year old despite raping her.

"I don't do it with intention that I should one day deny her or something like that. I have decided to choose her as my future wife" he said.

Four girls have already withdrawn from the Bidima DA Primary School in the first half of 2015. Two have run away from the community due to the pressures of being forced into early marriages.

Two others are pregnant but are hoping to return to school after delivery.