Upper West chiefs pledge to work to eliminate FGM

Wa, Nov 5, GNA- Traditional rulers in the Upper West Region have pledged to co-operate with all stakeholders to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) in the region.

Female circumcision, which is the practice of removing the clitoris mostly at their infancy, is an old age cultural practice among all the ethnic groups in the region.

The traditionalists among the Dagaabas, Wallas, Sissalas, Lobis and Brifos believe that circumcision greatly reduces the sexual urge of the girls and by inference helps them to preserve their chastity. While medical authorities say this practice poses a health risk to such girls, gender and human rights advocates also say the practice is a violation of human dignity.

This was contained in a communiqu=E9 issued by paramount chiefs in the region at the end of a two-day workshop on "Gender, Women's Rights and Negative Cultural Practices" organised by the Upper West Rural Women Association, a local NGO and sponsored by the United States Embassy.

Issues discussed at the workshop included gender disparities in the communities, rights of women, gender development, customs, taboos and cultural practices that are unhealthy and dehumanising The 11-point communiqu=E9 is an undertaking by the chiefs to review downwards the existing high bride prices in all the traditional areas of the region as well as promising to modernise their widowhood rites.

The paramount chiefs further pledged to discourage forced marriages, betrothals and elopement of girls.

"We shall vigorously promote girl child education in the region," the communiqu=E9 said.