ActionAid Ghana has called for urgent action to end child marriage and abuse in schools, urging government and community leaders to invest more in girls’ rights and education. The statement came during the 2026 International Day of the Girl-Child event in Techiman, Bono East Region, which carried the theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Kwame Afram Denkyira, ActionAid Ghana’s Regional Programme Manager, spoke directly to traditional leaders, educators, and students. He challenged the prevailing view of girls as victims needing rescue. “Girls are not victims to be saved but rights holders and agents of liberation who deserve justice, resources, and power,” he said.
Denkyira outlined several challenges confronting girls in the region. These included school-related gender-based violence, early and forced marriages, digital exclusion, and the impact of climate change and austerity measures. He pointed to recent cases of sexual abuse in schools as evidence of deeper structural inequalities. “Silence, impunity and patriarchal power can protect perpetrators at the expense of survivors,” he said, calling for strengthened systems to protect girls and ensure justice.
Ellen White Opoku, Techiman Municipal Girl-Child Coordinator, said ending child marriage requires a collective effort. She urged parents, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and law enforcement agencies to act decisively. “Abuse and exploitation could deprive girls of their childhood and limit their future opportunities,” Opoku warned.
ActionAid Ghana urged the government, Parliament, local authorities, and traditional leaders to take practical steps to protect girls and expand their opportunities. The organisation called for stronger accountability around child marriage and abuse, survivor-centred support, and safer, gender-responsive schools.
The group also demanded increased investment in quality education, mentorship, healthcare, and digital access, especially for girls in rural communities. They recommended full implementation of existing child protection laws, including the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), and the adoption of gender-responsive budgets that prioritise girls’ rights and leadership.
A message from ActionAid Ghana’s Country Director emphasised that investment in girls should be a matter of justice, not charity. “Girls in Ghana are not victims to be rescued; they are rights-holders and leaders who are shaping the future of our country,” the message stated. “Girls are not the future; they are the leaders of today. When we deliver justice and tear down barriers, their power transforms our country.”
ActionAid Ghana said it would continue working with traditional authorities, education stakeholders, and communities in Bono East to advance equality, dignity, and justice for girls. The organisation’s call for systemic change comes amid growing concerns about the protection and empowerment of young girls in Ghana’s rural regions.
According to Joy Online.
