A disturbing event recently unfolded in Accra, Ghana: a 63-year-old high priest married a 12-year-old girl in a lavish ceremony, captured proudly on camera. Despite public outcry and legal prohibitions against child marriage in Ghana, the priest proceeded with the wedding. Fortunately, law enforcement intervened, rescuing the girl from this predatory situation.
This incident is sadly not isolated; throughout Africa, child marriages persist, driven by entrenched cultural practices and gender inequality. These marriages rob girls of their childhood, subjecting them to trauma, health risks, and limited opportunities. Despite efforts to eradicate this practice, progress is slow, with Sub-Saharan Africa projected to take over 200 years to end child marriage at its current pace. It’s time for African societies to confront and eliminate this egregious violation of girls’ rights. Every girl deserves a childhood free from exploitation and oppression.
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/5/7/girls-in-africa-have-every-right-to-be-children
