Saboba chief to fight child marriage

The Paramount Chief of Saboba Traditional Area in the Northern Region, Bowan John Mateer Sakojim IV, has pledged his commitment towards the fight against child marriage and for youth development in the area.

The chief made this statement during a forum held at his palace at Saboba on Friday, August 10, 2018 to mark this year's international youth day.

The day set aside annually and globally to highlight cultural and legal/policy issues affecting the youth was on the theme " youth empowerment addressing cultural bottlenecks for girls and young women to thrive.

It was organised by Songtaba, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in partnership with Plan International Ghana under the Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA) project.

Speaking at the forum, the chief of Saboba expressed concerns about the failure of chefs. religious leaders and other well meaning people in protecting the rights of girls and their resolve to halt child marriages in the area.

He pledged the commitment of the traditional council to collaborate with civil society organisations working towards the advancement of the youth and girls in the area.

The Executive Director of Songtaba, Madam Lamnatu Adam on her part said the project seeks to achieve equal rights and opportunities for girls and young women and that the chief should support the cause of girls and aged women.

The GAA project coordinator. Mr. Mohammed Alhassan who gave a brief on the project and some of the interventions made so far the project has built the capacity of about 570 girls since the inception of the project.

The Saboba District Girls Education Officer, Madam Kaba Clara on her part also blamed opinion leaders in some communities in the district for preventing people from reporting cases affecting girls for redress and urged all to support girls empowerment as it is a catalyst for national development.

Background

The GAA project is a multi country project being implemented by an alliance team consisting of Plan International Ghana, Ghana National Coalition on the rights of children among others in the Northern, Upper East and the Greater Accra Regions.

In the Northern region the project is being implemented by Songtaba in collaboration with Plan International Ghana in 30 communities in the Gushegu, Saboba districts and Sagnarigu municipality which focuses on child marriages, sexual violence and abuse.