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‘Child marriage; disservice to victims, society’
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• Ms. Sahadatu Ali
An Education, Migration and Gender Researcher, Ms Sahadatu Ali, has said that persons who engage in child marriage do a disservice to the victims and the society in general.
“Children should be allowed to learn, develop and enjoy their childhood under the guidance of parents and guardians; they have no business carrying out marital duties, giving birth and raising children,” she said.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator last Thursday, Ms. Ali who is an advocate against child marriage said she had observed that much needed to be done by parents and the state to tackle the act which constituted a form of abuse against the young ones and deserved more public attention to fight the canker.
“Some argue that it was better to marry off girls at an early age than for them to be engaged in sexual activities. And I say that, if a child is engaged in sexual activities, it is the failure of the parents to guide the child, thus the child should not be punished for the failure of parents,” she said.
She intimated that marrying off children as a means of curbing premarital sex among children was a lazy approach to child nurturing.
“If children are engaged in sexual activities, it is the duty of parents to do the hard work of reorienting and guiding the children, rather than opting for the easiest way out which is child marriage” Ms Ali said.
The Education, Migration and Gender Researcher said she was unhappy that this critical aspect of the issue was not being constantly emphasized by well-meaning Ghanaians.
“They are also at a higher risk of being abused physically, sexually, verbally and financially due to their age and little appreciation of life in general” she said.
Ms. Ali said even among Muslims, where some adherents hid behind the alleged marriage of Prophet Mohammed to a nine years old Aisha to perpetuate child marriage, the practice had become unpopular.
“Some scholars and students of Hadiths had challenged this narration with new evidence revealing that at the time they claimed Aisha was nine years, records showed that her younger siblings were older than nine during the same period. Their argument is that Aisha cannot be younger than her younger siblings,” she disclosed.
She said another school of thought, opposed to the claim that Aisha married at nine years had argued that:
“If the Quran says Prophet Mohanmed was the best example to mankind, and hadith showed that he (the Prophet) refused to give his daughter, Fatima’s hand in marriage at 18 years with the excuse that she was not matured, how could the same person accept to marry a nine years old contrary to his own practice and example,” she questioned.
“There are other schools of thought that have argued against child marriage amongst Muslims, using evidence from the Quran. For example, the Quran says if an orphan is left in your care with property to be handed over to him/her when older, first test them to establish that they are matured before you hand over their property to them and/or marry them off,” she said.
She said the issue of child marriage should be attacked from all angles to ensure that children got the best from society and called on all persons to say no to child marriage.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman.
The forecourt of the Gbewaa Palace, was a mixture of rich tradition and emotional scenes as thousands of mourners concluded the three-day adua for the late Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Yaa Naa Abukari II.
For the period, the Gbewaa Palace became the spiritual and cultural heartbeat of the Dagbon Kingdom as Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, politicians, security personnel and ordinary citizens united in prayer for the repose of the soul of the revered monarch.
From dawn each day, streams of mourners, mostly dressed in traditional smocks and black attire, steadily filled the palace grounds and adjoining streets, transforming the royal seat into a sea of mourners.
Men, women, youth and children sat under canopies and open spaces while verses from the Holy Qur’an echoed across the palace, creating an atmosphere of reverence and reflection.
The air occasionally reverberated with ceremonial gunshots and traditional warrior displays, symbolising honour, bravery and the rich cultural heritage of the Dagbon Kingdom.
The adua, observed in accordance with Islamic tradition following the burial of the Yaa Naa, was attended by eminent Imams and Mallams who offered continuous prayers, seeking Allah’s mercy and eternal peace for the departed King.
Throughout the three-day observance, a steady flow of dignitaries visited the Gbewaa Palace to pay their respects and sign the book of condolence.
Among them were the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John Mburidiba; the Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe Issifu; and the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who joined members of the royal family, traditional rulers and mourners in honouring the late Yaa Naa.
Security remained tight throughout the mourning period, with the Ghana Police Service deploying 450 personnel to ensure law and order.
The officers were stationed at strategic locations, including the Gbewaa Palace, major entry points into Yendi and other key installations, where they managed traffic, maintained public order and provided security for thousands of mourners and visiting dignitaries.
Beyond the official ceremonies, the event reflected the deep respect the people of Dagbon and Ghanaians at large had for the late monarch.
The conclusion of the three-day adua marks another important milestone in the funeral rites of the late Yaa Naa and signals the gradual transition towards the customary processes leading to the selection and enskinment of a new Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom.
Although the formal three-day prayers have ended, mourning activities continue, with the seventh-day Islamic prayers expected to draw another large gathering of traditional authorities, government officials, religious leaders and well-wishers from across the country.
From: Geoffrey Buta, Yendi
An Optometrist, Dr Adjoa Pokua Osae Awulai has called on parents to take keen interest in regularly presenting their wards for eye screening.
That, he said, would help with early detection of defects or abnormalities with the eye and seek lasting solution for them.
Dr Osae Awulai made the call at the 13th graduation ceremony of the 3 Garrison Early Childhood Development Centre, Liberation Barracks in Sunyani where a total of 106 pupils made up 50 boys and 56 girls graduated.
According to her, problems with the eye have usually been ignored by some parents that preferred to self-medicate and in the process, making the condition worse.
But she stated that the eye was an important organ that must be treated or handled with extreme care.
According to Dr Awulai, the first eye examination must actually start from birth to six months, adding that “this must be done at least twice in a year.”
This, according to her, was a significant step in improving the wellbeing and academic performance of the children as they grow.
She explained that kids with eye defects develop low self-esteem, lack confidence and perform poorly in school due to their condition.
Dr Awulai said despite her regular school visits to sensitise and create awareness on eye health and safety, most people are just reluctant and find excuses not to seek medical care.
“Some people have become so superstitious; they hold on to their religious beliefs rather than seeking medical care,” she said and urged parents to be regular and intentional about problems with their wards eyes.
She commended the management and staff of the 3 Garrison Early Childhood Development Centre for the care, sacrifice, love, and compassion for the training of the school children.
The Headmistress of 3Garrison Early Childhood Development Centre Mrs Helen Korkor Bamfo appealed to parents and teachers to show and demonstrate love, care, patience, and empathy in nurturing the young children.
This she said is a responsibility that must guide every efforts being made to train the future leaders of our dear country.
Mrs Bamfo said training kids with creative skills encompasses providing the essential support and nourishment conducive for developing their cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual and problem solving skills.
Lt. Michael Tetteh, who represented the Commanding Officer of 3BN Lt Col. Michael Naar, appealed to fathers to make their presence count, indicating that “it is critical in raising children.”
Lt. Tetteh praised the teachers for their professionalism and selfless dedication to duty.
The school pupils entertained their parents and guests with choreographed dances and poetry recitals at the ceremony.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani
