A peek at "evidence and anecdotal data" at bottom of the child-bride problem in Ghana!
A good case for harmonization of local customs to national laws, development priorities, and international norms.
READ: ... read full comment
Timely!
A peek at "evidence and anecdotal data" at bottom of the child-bride problem in Ghana!
A good case for harmonization of local customs to national laws, development priorities, and international norms.
READ: Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs
Vision: "...to preserve, sustain and integrate the regal, traditional and cultural values and practices to accelerate wealth creation and harmony for total national development..."
OUR COMMENT: Oddly, there is nothing that says "reform", "transform", etc. Same can be said about the "Objectives" identified by the same Ministry. This is unsettling because many children in grade school can tell us a lot about local customs that are anachronistic, foolish, and wasteful. And then, there are agencies such as those listed by the writer helping to manage these serious socio-cultural problems.
ITEM: Our saving grace here is a reference to "...review the various chieftaincy and cultural legal framework to conform to international best practices...", under MISSION STATEMENT. However, we will probably never get there unless it is unequivocally adopted as one of the more important performance "OBJECTIVES. It can't be just lip-service.
Our thank to John Kingsley Krugu!
Captein 9 years ago
I suspect not many people will be commenting on the article because again it is more analytical maybe critical and not POLITICAL footballing and insults. And it is sad the state of the Ghanaian thought process today.
We've ... read full comment
I suspect not many people will be commenting on the article because again it is more analytical maybe critical and not POLITICAL footballing and insults. And it is sad the state of the Ghanaian thought process today.
We've been captive and cajoled by politicians to become mediocre, and by that they can manipulate the whole population for their just their own advantage or benefit.
As you have noted and stated as also backed by the statistical data or evidence the situation for girls remains dire.
The problem with Ghana is there are no proper historians that shape policy.
I say this because Dr. Kwagyir Aggrey notably had his famous saying long before the world became aware of the problem.
I believe improvements have been recorded under various government but a long to go as the data proved.
The 3 Northern regions feature prominently and endemic if I may say with the 'disease' of the girl child in marriage.
I would like the author to go back and state the fact as he knows it.Poverty is not close to the major causal factor because the Volta and Central regions are among the poorest in the country but researchers tend to shy away from Volta as poor because of the high literacy of the people and Central because of the academic infrastructure in the region, best and numerous high schools in Cape Coast and its environs alone, colleges and University. The truth is Volta and Central are very poor.
This brings us to the issue of culture and most importantly the RELIGION of the North, mostly islamic making girl marry young and not poverty.
I can understand the author not wanting to ruffle feathers but without facing the realities the problem can not be solved.
The religion allows marrying up to four and stipulated to be as young as 16 except that the law in Ghana prohibits it but who is enforcing it? What are the chiefs doing.
Again if you compare Upper West where christianity is higher the trend is lower,Jirapa and Nandom mostly Catholic.
The moment the author shifts from this facts a bit he will become like Nana Oye Lithur who has given up the fight for girls.
Coming back back to the boys or rather the men who marry these daughters some are very educated and elites but perpetuate these crimes on the poor girls out of vanity and greed.
Dr Nkrumah initiated free education in the whole North and applies today so why are all not in school?
31st December Women have also done a great job in the north only to be stampeded by the NPP.
Kufuor brought in the free lunch programme under HIPC by the NPP.
The NDC professor Mills as president gives out free uniforms to all poor to go to school.
During Rawlings reign the government went even further to give priority to emphasize girls into reading more science and math. But after all these girls are trained they do not carry on the fight to help other girls. They become elites and forget they were poor and had support from all such programmes.
These are efforts successive governments have made to solve poverty as a reason for girls not in school.
The problem comes back to culture or more often RELIGION and this is where it should be talked.
Prof Lungu 9 years ago
Captein,
You've made some great comments. But your last one sums it all as you say, "...The problem comes back to culture or more often RELIGION and this is where it should be talked..."
This is akin to slavery, or as Mar ... read full comment
Captein,
You've made some great comments. But your last one sums it all as you say, "...The problem comes back to culture or more often RELIGION and this is where it should be talked..."
This is akin to slavery, or as Marx said, "opium" for the people.
From the other side where people are falling over themselves to make foolish and unimportant comments, in our humble opinion,....
READ: "....The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu Ekuful has described as “surprising” the seeming silence of the Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur on the recent rape scandal involving ace broadcaster Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD)...."
OUR COMMENT: What, reasonably, could Ms. Nana Oye Lithur have said, but, "This is a case in the courts...involving 2 adults who possess agency, unequal they may be"? Of what use would that be to Ms. Ursula Owusu Ekuful and folks of the same mind?
ITEM: We'd expect that Ms. Nana Oye Lithur and her agency, including the so-called Chieftancy Ministry, would respond to these commentaries and actions by people trying to push Ghana forward, as Mr. Krugu and others are doing.
So, where are their comments, contact information, details about their plans, etc.!
Ghana: More "Smokers" than "Reflectors"!
Prof Lungu 9 years ago
Or, should we say,
Ghana
More and more "Smokers"
Less and less "Reflectors"!
Or, should we say,
Ghana
More and more "Smokers"
Less and less "Reflectors"!
Timely!
A peek at "evidence and anecdotal data" at bottom of the child-bride problem in Ghana!
A good case for harmonization of local customs to national laws, development priorities, and international norms.
READ: ...
read full comment
I suspect not many people will be commenting on the article because again it is more analytical maybe critical and not POLITICAL footballing and insults. And it is sad the state of the Ghanaian thought process today.
We've ...
read full comment
Captein,
You've made some great comments. But your last one sums it all as you say, "...The problem comes back to culture or more often RELIGION and this is where it should be talked..."
This is akin to slavery, or as Mar ...
read full comment
Or, should we say,
Ghana
More and more "Smokers"
Less and less "Reflectors"!