Chereponi District, North East Region – The Yendi Child and Vulnerable Protection Centre, part of the Yendi Diocese of the Catholic Church, conducted a sensitization campaign in Sangbana, Chereponi District, North East Region, focusing on child marriage.
The initiative brought together various stakeholders, including traditional authorities, the Ghana Police Service, the Department of Social Welfare, the Department of Children, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, among others.
This awareness campaign was a component of the Yendi Child and Vulnerable Protection Project, which commenced last year.
Funded by Kindermissionwerk, a German Catholic funding agency, the project's primary aim is to protect children in the area from various forms of abuse, enabling them to realize their full potential.
Reverend Father Gregory Dery, Director of the Yendi Child and Vulnerable Protection Centre emphasized the significance of community support in the growth and development of children.
He urged community members and stakeholders to prioritize the protection of children against child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and forced marriages, highlighting that child abuse is against the laws of the country.
Father Emmanuel Ujunwa, Parish Priest of Saint Brigid's Catholic Church in Chereponi, emphasized the need for collective efforts to safeguard children against violence, particularly from relatives and caregivers.
Mrs. Akuffu Gifty, the Girl-Child Education Officer at the Chereponi District Education Office, raised concerns about parental neglect contributing to rising cases of child marriages, school dropouts, and teenage pregnancies in the area.
She called on parents to fulfil their responsibilities, ensuring that children remain in school to complete their education.
Nanyame Kofi Malba VIII, Paramount Chief of the Chereponi Traditional Area, commended the Catholic Church for its commitment to the welfare and protection of children in the region.
He expressed the traditional authorities' willingness to support advocacy efforts aimed at protecting children and other vulnerable groups.
Reporting by Solomon Gumah. Editing by Mariam Aminu.
