Editorial
Stop female genital mutilation now
It is so surprising and sad that certain practices that degrade the dignity of women and girls still persist in this sophisticated, tech¬nological age.
Some traditionalists still uphold certain beliefs and practices that affect the rights of women and girls despite the various interventions by advocates.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is one of these practices, and it has been prevalent for a long time in Ghana, particularly in the north.
FGM refers to treatments that in¬volve the partial or complete remov¬al of the external female genitalia or other harm to the female genital organs for cultural or other unrelat¬ed, non-medical reasons.
FGM, typically performed on girls between infancy and age 15, under¬mines their rights. It is barbaric, de-structive and diminishes the dignity of women and girls.
It is so distressing that some traditional and tribal beliefs support FGM in Ghana. While some think it promotes a woman’s cleanliness and faithfulness, others view it as a necessary part of raising a girl and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage.
The dilemma is how such a primi¬tive approach can be used to control a girl’s sexuality in order to promote premarital virginity and marital faithfulness.
The Spectator demands the aboli¬tion of FGM and condemns the prac¬tice in its entirety. We think that no cultural, religious, or traditional beliefs should be used to support the harmful practice of FGM, which af¬fects the health of women and girls.
According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than 200 million girls and women alive today have experienced FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia where FGM is still practised.
Although FGM has been practised for more than a thousand years, it is encouraging to know that partner¬ships between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have seen significant achievements.
According to a 2021 Annual Report on FGM, over six million girls and women got prevention, protec¬tion, and care services connected to FGM through these interventions, and about 45 million people made public commitments to stop FGM.
Additionally, 532,158 females were spared from having FGM.
However, more needs to be done in terms of advocacy and raising awareness because the practice cannot be eradicated in a single generation.
Coordinated and systematic efforts are required to promote the abolition of FGM. These efforts must involve entire communities to con¬centrate on human rights, gender equality, sexual education, and pay attention to the needs of women and girls who experience its effects.
In order to promote awareness, change attitude, and stop harmful traditional practices, NGOs must also collaborate with girls, parents, community leaders, government officials and other stakeholders.
To assist the UN’s efforts to com¬pletely eradicate FGM by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5, we urge supporters to step up their efforts to make FGM a thing of the past.
Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, the ages of some drivers of commercial vehicles continue to baffle me.
This is common during weekends when one boards any of the commercial vehicles – be it trotros and okada.
I remember, I boarded a taxi from the Accra Central area towards the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. When I sat in the vehicle, I realised the driver was a young boy. Specifically, he said he was 18.
I know our laws do not permit youth under the age of 21 to be driving; that is clearly against Ghana’s Road Traffic laws for operating commercial vehicles.
Some commuters have even had confrontations with station masters over the issue and have refused to board vehicles driven by underage individuals, despite the risk of arriving late for work.
This situation is deeply disturbing because it puts the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
No matter how skilled such drivers may be, allowing underage persons to operate commercial vehicles is wrong and unlawful. Laws governing road safety are meant to protect lives, and ignoring them only increases the chances of accidents and loss of lives.
I therefore urge the relevant authorities, especially the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, to strictly enforce the age requirements for commercial driving in the country.
Baba
Labadi
The advantages of focusing on girls have been evident over the years. However, current research indicates that the statistics pertaining to boys are still declining.
Approximately 69 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls finish primary school. While Senior High School (SHS) enrollment trends have lately changed, with females significantly outnumbering males (about 110 girls to every 100 boys), Junior High School (JHS) gender parity remains stable, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining between 1.00 and 1.03.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) indicates parity between girls and boys.
Although encouraging education for girls is essential for Ghana’s development, the strong emphasis has unintentionally led to inequalities for boys.
Many stakeholders worry that affirmative action and unequal resource distribution put males at risk, which can occasionally lead to increased dropout rates and behavioural issues in specific neighbourhoods.
There has been a lot of discussion among Ghanaian sociologists and educators about the disproportionate support given to girls and how it affects boys.
They claim that the majority of scholarships and special facilities are frequently disproportionately given to girls, which boy child advocates contend makes young men feel ignored or disadvantaged.
Due to these differences, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, has voiced serious concerns and is pushing for a deliberate discussion about the education and development of boys in order to build stronger families and societies.
The statement was made by Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua during a seminar hosted by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra on May 16, which is International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised in association with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.”
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua revealed that many young males are vulnerable due to inadequate mentoring, a decline in schooling, negative social media influences, and emotional neglect.
Additionally, he stated that the boy child faced numerous difficulties, including aggression, substance addiction, academic decline, emotional neglect, and the lack of strong role models, as a result of the focus shifting to the girl child.
He worries that since boys are essential to the development of the country, they should not be overlooked in discussions about leadership, education, family stability, and national reform.
The Spectator agrees with Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua and believes that while it is important to train girls, neglecting boys can impede social advancement by causing differences in behaviour and education between young men and women.
“If we don’t make an effort social media will train our children for us. We’re not saying they shouldn’t use social media, but we should help them get the information they need to succeed in life,” he said.
The Spectator believes that the GES would adopt gender-responsive education in order to guarantee that classroom instruction meets the requirements of both boys and girls equally.
Let’s continue to be dedicated to making sure that no child is left behind.
