Media NGO leads campaign against child abuse

September 9, 2010

Ghana News: Accra Mail

As part of measures to reduce the ever-increasing phenomenon of child abuse in Ghana, and other parts of the globe, Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), formerly known as African Media Aid (AFRIMA), a non-profit media organisation, has instituted November every year as 'Child Abuse Prevention Month,' which will be marked in its operational areas.

The main goal of the project is to raise awareness, and reach out to community leaders, traditional and religious authorities, as well as mobilising communities to take a strong stand on violence against children, by working with local and national media to run campaigns on violence against children, especially girls. 


Disclosing this to newsmen in Sunyani, the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of GLOMEF, Raphael Godlove Ahenu Jr., noted that day-in-day-out, there are reports in the media of all sorts of injustices against children, and stressed the need for all sections of society to play their parts in protecting the minors in society. 


According to him, violence being physical, psychological and sexual was a pernicious problem in Africa, stressing that girls are particularly vulnerable, partly due to the influence of traditional values, and tolerance towards domestic violence. 


Girls in many parts of Africa are victims of early marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), which, according to the CEO of GLOMEF, puts the African girl at risk of contracting HIV, since most husbands are older and more sexually experienced.  

Female Circumision still thriving

November 9, 2009 By Daniel Edyegu The Sabiny girls from Sebei sub-region have said female genital mutilation (FGM) still thrives due to stigmatisation of uncircumcised girls. Students from Gamatui Girls Secondary School in Kapchorwa district told the parliamentary committee on gender, labour and social development on Sunday that voters threaten to deny uncircumcised females votes. "The electorate normally argue that she has violated the cultural norms. Often, the opponent who has undergone the ritual, capitalises on this," Bonita Chepkwemoi, a Senior Three student, said. Jane Cherop, a Senior Two student, said in the rural areas, elderly people frighten girls that they will fail to get men to marry them if they refuse to undergo the ritual. "Out of the fear of failure to get future partners, the girls succumb. Besides, the surgeons often administer herbs that make the victim unconscious before cutting them," Cherop said. Female genital mutilation involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia. In Uganda, the practice is mainly carried out among the Sabiny and the Pokot Karimojong. The parliamentary committee led by the chairperson, Beatrice Lagada (Oyam), was seeking the views of females on FGM Bill. The Bill, if passed, will criminalise FGM and punish the perpetrators. Lagada explained that a person who carries out FGM or does it on herself would be liable to 10-years of imprisonment. Lagada noted that in case of aggravated FGM, where the victim dies, contracts HIV or suffers disability and the perpetrator is a medical worker, parent or guardian, the culprit would be liable to life imprisonment. "A person who participates in any events like cultural dances leading to FGM is liable to five years of imprisonment. Any culture, custom, ritual, tradition or religion shall not be a defence under this Act," Lagada stated. She urged Sabiny girls to report any perpetrator to the Police.