Accra: The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has launched a new portal aimed at managing information related to child marriage in an effort to curb the prevalence of this practice in Ghana. The ministry has reached out to journalists, urging them to play a pivotal role in advocacy and raising awareness about the detrimental effects of child betrothal, cohabitation, and marriage on young girls.

According to Ghana News Agency, the Director of the Child Marriage Unit at the ministry, Madam Saphia Tamimu, stressed the impact of adolescent pregnancies as a major driver of child marriages within communities. She highlighted that over two million girls in Ghana have fallen victim to this cultural practice, which perpetuates a cycle of poverty. Despite existing legal measures against child marriage, there remains significant concern, prompting the creation of the 'Child Marriage Portal' to disseminate information and encourage stricter interventions to eliminate the practice by 2030.

The portal, established in 2021 with the domain www.cm.mogcsp.gov.gh, is funded by the UNFPA. It is designed to provide real-time data and facilitate direct feedback, ensuring stakeholders can access vital information to combat child marriage. Madam Tamimu emphasized the need for collective effort, especially from men, to achieve the goal of zero child marriage by 2030. She pointed out the adverse consequences of the practice, including unplanned pregnancies that jeopardize the health of young girls.

Mr. Senanu Agbozo, the Portal Consultant, explained that the portal aggregates information to aid stakeholders in advancing policy advocacy and developing preventive measures to meet Sustainable Development Goal five. Dr. Sampson Appiah, Editorial Committee Head for the Portal, urged journalists to contribute by producing concise and factual stories on child marriage for integration into the portal. He recognized the media's crucial role in effecting change and supporting the 2030 objective.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has also provided toll-free numbers, 0800111222, 0800800800, and 0800900900, for complaints and inquiries related to gender-based activities.