Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister-Designate, has pledged to collaborate with stakeholders to tackle the persistent issue of child marriages in the region.
Child marriage continues to be a significant concern in the area, with many children under the legal marriage age of 18 being forced into unions.
Speaking during his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 27, Mr Atanga expressed deep concern about the clandestine nature of these practices, highlighting that many perpetrators operate in secrecy to avoid detection.
He vowed to initiate sensitization programmes aimed at educating communities on the harmful effects and legal implications of child marriage. These programmes, he explained, would seek to raise awareness, protect children’s rights, and curb the practice.
“The fight against child marriage requires a collective effort, and I am committed to working with all stakeholders to bring this practice to an end,” Mr. Atanga stated.
“If I become the regional minister, I will have community sensitization on why it’s not right for them and constitutionally wrong for anybody to marry somebody under the age of 18 years. So, I will embark on that community sensitization.”
