Gender advocate condemns forced marriages

Accra, July 18, GNA - Mrs Marian Tackie, Director for Women Issues at the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the behaviour of parents who push their daughters in compulsory marriages.

She said though the Children's Act of 1998; Act 560 stipulated the marriageable age as 18 years, every girl has the right to decide whom and when to marry.

"Marriageable age does not mean that one has to be forced into marriage, the individual has the right of choice and to consent to any relationship or marriage", Mrs Tackie told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

She said the physiological conditions, especially of the girls, must be well developed to enable the individual to take up any huge responsibility involved in marriage.

Mrs Tackie cited the case of nineteen-year-old Mahad Seidu, a head porter, who was chained and bundled into a Tamale-bound passenger on the orders of the parents who wanted her to marry their preferred man at all cost, saying it amounted to a criminal offence of kidnap, abduction as well as inflicting pain on the girl.

She said the Ministry was working closely with the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police to bring perpetrators to book and that her outfit would support the girl. The police are holding three suspects - a driver, a driver assistant and a farmer, culprits in the girl's case.

Mrs Tackie called for more sensitisation on the rights of the Ghanaian child to avoid the reoccurrence of such cruel acts in society. Mrs Borquaye disclosed that the unit had recorded 16 cases of compulsory marriages since 1999.