Madam Clara Valentine Tigenoah, Head of Programmes at Camfed Ghana, has emphasized the critical role of community collaboration in ending early child marriages that hinder girls’ education, particularly in rural northern areas.
Speaking at a community durbar in Gushegu, Northern Region, organized by Camfed Ghana, Madam Tigenoah urged traditional and religious leaders, parents, guardians, and teachers to unite in supporting girls to remain in school. She highlighted poverty, peer pressure, and lack of information as major factors fueling early marriages.
“Education is the most powerful tool to end early marriage and poverty. We must collectively keep girls in school,” she said, calling on stakeholders to commit to raising awareness about the long-term benefits of educating girls.
Camfed Ghana has actively worked across multiple districts, providing bursary support, nurturing young female leaders, promoting livelihood opportunities, and mobilizing communities through Parent Support Groups, Teacher Mentors, and District Committees to sustain educational progress.
Gushegu Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Abdul-Hafiz Adam, lauded Camfed’s impact in reducing school dropouts among girls. He also noted collaborative efforts with the Ghana Enterprise Agency to support over 400 Camfed-assisted businesses with training, grants, and microcredit, boosting local employment and entrepreneurship.
He encouraged youth to enroll in the National Apprenticeship Programme to acquire essential vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
The Chief of Gushegu, Naa Yab Gushe-Naa, pledged the ongoing support of traditional authorities and elders to ensure the success of Camfed and other development initiatives in the community, reinforcing a shared commitment to girls’ education and empowerment.
