First Lady calls for end to child marriage
The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has called on all stakeholders, especially traditional rulers and religious leaders, to support the government to end child marriage in the country.
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She said child brides were often deprived of their fundamental human rights to health, education and safety, and added that they were neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives or mothers and were at a greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
She said the future of children was very important and there was, therefore, the need to ensure that girls were allowed to go to school instead of becoming mothers at tender ages.
Medical equipment
Mrs Mahama was addressing a durbar of chiefs, queenmothers and the people at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region during a tour of the area where the Lordina Foundation donated medical equipment and supplies to the Wenchi Health Centre.
The Lordina Foundation, together with its donor partners, particularly MedShare of USA, donated the medical supplies to the facility as part of their contribution towards improving the healthcare delivery system of the community.
She indicated that as a mother, one issue that touched her heart was child marriage and therefore, asked all stakeholders to assist in intensifying strategies towards ending the phenomenon.
“We owe it a duty as parents to support our children to climb the academic ladder and become responsible members in the society before giving them away in marriage,” she told the people.
Child marriage
Mrs Mahama explained that Ghana had joined other African states in the fight against child marriage by launching the End Child Marriage campaign at the recently held Seventh African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights, which she hosted in Accra.
She described Wenchi as a very important town in Ghana’s history as the Prime Minister of the Second Republic, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, hailed from the town.
Health infrastructure
“Even as we celebrate the 59th anniversary of Ghana’s independence, we must also be proud of towns like Wenchi for their contribution to the progress of our nation,” she said.
Mrs Mahama said since the majority of the people in the area engaged in farming and livestock rearing, there was no doubt that Wenchi was contributing significantly towards the growth of the national economy.
She said the availability of health infrastructure, medical supplies, and trained personnel were key to realising a successful quality healthcare delivery system, and expressed the government’s determination to prioritise the health of citizens.
“The President, in his State of the Nation Address, restated his commitment to continue the upgrading of our health system. And as the President said on that day, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” she said.
Essential players
She showed her gratitude to MedShare USA for its support in making the donation a reality and urged the recipients to use them for the intended purposes.
Mr Annoduku Arnoh, the Wenchi District Health Director, who received the items, expressed appreciation to the foundation for the gesture.
Nana Owusu Ansah Sasraku Besseeh I, Chief of Wenchi, commended the First Lady for donating towards the health of the people as well as providing other infrastructural needs of the town.
The First Lady was accompanied by Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Nana Saa Gyamfua, Member of the Council of State and some regional and constituency officers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).