NANGODI, Upper East Region—A planned Islamic marriage ceremony involving a 15-year-old girl in Nangodi was brought to an abrupt halt following community backlash and intervention by advocacy groups and government agencies.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Ayorogo family had arranged for their underage daughter to wed a member of the Ayinbono family, with traditional bridal preparations already in place. Despite the family's consent, the plan was met with stern disapproval from the young girl's schoolmates, teachers, and a collective of community voices who equated the action to child abuse.
The organized dissent culminated in actions by the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Department of Gender, and other public entities. Their collective effort successfully prevented the marriage, regardless of the girl’s own aspirations to forgo formal education in favor of vocational training.
This event in the Upper East Region is indicative of the persistent challenge of child marriage, predominantly observed in Ghana's northern villages. Economic strain pushes families into these arrangements to secure dowries, often without the consent of the young girls.
Health professionals highlight that early marriage is a leading cause of death in adolescents between 15 to 17 years, primarily due to complications from pregnancy, delivery, and unsafe abortion methods. The mortality rates are part of a larger global health crisis where approximately 500,000 women perish annually from pregnancy and childbirth complications.
Despite national policies aiming to foster female education and career opportunities, the practice of child marriage remains a pressing issue. Current statistics reveal that globally, 28 girls are married off every minute, with one in five Ghanaian girls married before 18, according to the 2014 Demographic Health Survey. Regions in the north of Ghana report child marriage rates upwards of 36%.
Ghanaian law, through its constitution and the amended Children Act, outlaws marriage under the age of 18. Yet, as the 2030 target year to eradicate child marriage approaches, delineated in the Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, more vigorous efforts are needed.
The UNFPA has stepped in to support the third phase of the Global Programme to end child marriage, with initiatives in the Upper East Region engaging local men and boys as ambassadors in the movement against the practice. Notable figures like Ms. Yvonne Wonchua and Mr. James Twene are at the forefront of these interventions, which involve advocacy clubs, social media campaigns, and educational workshops.
Recommendations are being put forward for the expansion of these programs across all districts, increased support for traditional leaders, and further resources for the Department of Gender. The Media and Communication Advocacy Network (MCAN) is also pivotal in this fight, using its platform to campaign against child marriage.
This collaborative effort between government, traditional authorities, and media is vital to protect young girls in Ghana from the detrimental impact of early marriage and to uphold the objectives set forth in the Sustainable Development Goals.