News
‘Child marriage; disservice to victims, society’
• 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.
Ghanaian cinema continues to break boundaries as Vibes The Movie has received an official nomination at the prestigious Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) in Toronto.
This latest international recognition is another proud moment for Ghana and a powerful testament to the creativity, originality, and global appeal of Ghanaian storytelling.
Directed by Big Ghun and starring Jeffrey Nortey, Vibes The Movie evolved from the hugely successful social media series, where the beloved characters Obolo Tui and Lil Pui captured the hearts of millions with their unique blend of rap, comedy, and relatable stories about the everyday struggles and ambitions of Ghanaian youth.
The film has already brought honour to Ghana on the international stage, most recently winning an Outstanding Achievement Award at the American Motion Pictures Festival in the United States.
The Chronicle noted that the film was recognized for its originality, craftsmanship, and storytelling impact among a competitive pool of global entries.
Now, with a nomination at TINFF in Canada, Vibes The Movie continues its remarkable journey from the streets of Accra to some of the world’s most respected film platforms.
The nomination underscores the growing global appreciation for authentic African stories and confirms that Ghanaian filmmakers are making a significant mark in international cinema.
As Vibes The Movie flies the Black Star high in Toronto, Ghana celebrates yet another cultural achievement that showcases the country’s talent, resilience, and storytelling excellence to the world
A prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has broken silence on the deep-seated internal machinations within the party, warning that the continuous victimization of members could severely jeopardize unity ahead of the general elections.
In a post on the party’s internal democratic processes, the former National Entrpreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) boss, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah revealed how personal ambitions were stifled by party elites in the Asante Akyem Central constituency, despite overwhelming grassroots support.
According to the aggrieved party member, the decision to run for the parliamentary seat was not a self-serving agenda but a direct response to a call to service by the local constituents.
“My Asante Akyem Central people loved my politics and approached me to come and serve them as MP,” he stated.
He added that “But my own party elders blocked me and supported the incumbent MP to cheat through the system as if I was an outsider.”
The unfair playing field he revealed led to a massive financial distress. The stalwart disclosed incurring massive debts across two consecutive primary election cycles, alongside other personal challenges.
Despite the systemic sabotage, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah noted that he remained loyal, continuously defending both the NPP party and the government’s policies at all levels.
“Seeing what’s going on in the current polling station elections in several constituencies, it seems not much has changed,” he warned.
“The victimization of those who want to challenge current or former MPs should stop,” he stated.
With the general elections approaching, he cautioned,”You don’t treat party people anyhow and expect unconditional unity for the general elections.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
