A survey conducted by World Vision International has revealed that in Agortime Ziope in the Volta Region, about 24.5% of girls under 16 are being forced into child marriage.
The survey also reveals that 15% of the female population have fallen prey to teenage pregnancy.
This was revealed during a campaign against child marriage at Agortime Ziope in the Volta Region by World Vision International in collaboration with the Gender Department.
The campaign dubbed "End Child Marriage Now" is to engage the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers as well as children on the dangers of child marriage.
Sponsorship and child protection officer for World Vision, Samuel Tseganu who spoke to the media noted the situation is worsening, hence, the sensitisation program, to educate the public.
Volta Regional Director for the Department of Gender, Mrs. Thywill Eyram Kpe, also noted with worry the alarming rate at which the cases are being brought to the department. She therefore called for collaborative efforts to put a stop to the menace.
Some of the school children who spoke with JoyNews listed peer pressure, poverty and lack of good parental care as some of the factors that result in child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
Meanwhile, a Child Protection Committee has been constituted to address the challenges facing the community.
Latest Stories
-
Kenyan blogger’s wife seeks answers after his death in police custody
32 minutes -
Gunmen kill at least 100 people in Nigeria’s Benue state, Amnesty International says
42 minutes -
Ivory Coast workers say Unilever is violating their union rights amid share sale, documents show
53 minutes -
Trump floats plan for undocumented farm and hotel workers to work legally in the U.S.
1 hour -
South Africa stocks suffer $3.7bn losing streak from foreign investors
1 hour -
Mahama orders military to secure Bolga-Bawku-Pulmakom road
1 hour -
Nigerian President Tinubu’s pardon of ‘Ogoni Nine’ draws ethnic group’s rejection
2 hours -
Senior Kenyan policeman arrested over death of blogger in custody
2 hours -
Egypt deports dozens more foreign nationals heading for march to Gaza
2 hours -
Egypt halts fertiliser production as Israeli gas disruptions deepen energy strain
2 hours -
Mali hopes Russia partnership will help end raw gold exports
3 hours -
WHO warns of spread of cholera outbreak from Sudan to Chad refugee camps
3 hours -
Tunisia sentences prominent opposition figure Abir Moussi to two years in prison
3 hours -
Half of December shows in Ghana by your favourite artistes were all free – Ruddy Kwakye
3 hours -
My dad gave me a kidney – now I can have my dream wedding
3 hours