The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has urged journalists to play an active role in combating the rise of child betrothal, cohabitation, and early marriages in communities through impactful advocacy and increased awareness.

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Child marriage, a persistent challenge for the girl-child, has stifled the growth and potential of countless girls over the years, derailing their aspirations of achieving their dreams and making meaningful contributions to their families and society.

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Madam Saphia Tamimu, Director of the Child Marriage Unit at the Ministry, highlighted during a media engagement on the “Child Marriage Portal” that adolescent pregnancies remain a significant driver of child marriages in various communities.

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She revealed that in Ghana, over two million girls have fallen victim to this harmful cultural practice, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limiting opportunities for affected individuals and their families.

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She said despite the legal and policy environment to stop the practice, there was still course for concern, and “this is the foremost reason for creating the Child Marriage Portal to share information with stakeholders for more stringent interventions to end the practice by 2030.”The Portal, launched in 2021 with the domain www.cm.mogcsp.gov.

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gh, is funded by the UNFPA and equipped with security features to provide real-time data and updates on child marriage practices. It also allows users to share direct feedback.Madam Tamimu mentioned that Ghana aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030. However, achieving this goal will require collective action, especially from men, who are often the main perpetrators of the practice.

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“Girls cannot become bride until the stipulated age of marriage. What they need from society now is care, books, pens and study assisted and not boob’s touching.”Many young girls have ended up with unplanned pregnancies because of child marriage, which also puts their health in danger, Madam Tamimu explained.Mr.

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Senanu Agbozo, a Consultant for the Portal, shared that the website gathers and organizes information about child marriage for everyone involved to use. This makes it easier to talk about the problem, push for better policies, and come up with ways to prevent it, all aimed at meeting the SDG Goal 5 on gender equality.Dr.

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Sampson Appiah, who leads the Portal's Editorial Committee, encouraged journalists to write short, relevant, and accurate stories about child marriage for the website. He pointed out that the media plays a key role in creating awareness and helping Ghana reach its goal of ending child marriage by 2030.

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The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has also provided toll-free numbers—0800111222, 0800800800, and 0800900900—for complaints and questions about gender-related issues.

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