“Ending child marriage in Ghana: there’s no time to wait! – Day of the African Child 2015”

 

P.O. Box 2153 TL Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana, West Africa

E-mail: paorp.vwc@gmail.com, Phone:+233(0)203507940 / 0543305470

PRESS RELEASE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

“Ending child marriage in Ghana: there’s no time to wait! – Day of the African Child 2015”

As a member of a global partnership of more than 485 civil society organisations, Girls Not Brides Ghana is a partnership of civil society organisations in Ghana who are committed to working together to address child marriage and enable girls to fulfil their potentials in life. Girls Not Brides Ghana is releasing this press statement as part of activities to commemorate the Day of the African Child. Commemorated every year on 16 June, Day of the African Child is an opportunity to reflect on the barriers that children face across Africa, a continent where 40% of girls are married off before their 18^th birthday.

Ghana has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world, showing that on average, one out of four girls are married before their 18th birthday. The Ghana Demographic Health Survey in 2008 indicated that about 25% of women aged 20-24 were married or were in union before age 18 years. The 2011 MultiIndicator Cluster Survey (MICS) also scores Ghana about 28% for age of marriage before 18 and about 6% for age before 15 years.

At the regional level, previous surveys gave the indication that prevalence is highest in Upper East (50%), followed by Upper West (39%), Northern (36%) and the least prevalence in Greater Accra (11%). In terms of percentages of girls getting married before age 18 years Upper East region leads with 39%, followed by Western region 37% and the least being Greater Accra region with12%. This trend in the statistics emphasizes that child, early and forced marriage is a huge problem in Ghana hence the need to develop strategies that will address it. Child marriage holds girls back, depriving them of their health, education and a chance to prosper, but it also holds back their families, communities and the whole country.

Luckily, things are changing. In just a few years, political commitments to end child marriage have dramatically increased. From the launch of an African Union campaign to end child marriage to the development of national strategies on child marriage in a number of countries, what was once a taboo issue is now firmly on the political agenda. In Ghana here, the commitment shown by the current administration through the leadership of the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), the HounorableNana OyeLithur to develop a national strategy to address child marriage in the country is highly commendable indeed.

This year’s theme for the International Day of the African Child, “25 Years after the Adoption of the African Children’s Charter: Accelerating our Collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa”, is particularly relevant to our efforts. Not only does it bring the nation’s attention on the issue that bring us all together, but it does so by highlighting the importance of the need for civil society, traditional and religious leaders to partner with the Government to ensure the eradication of child marriage in Ghana. Much progress has been made on child marriage, but so much more needs to be done. If we don’t accelerate our efforts, the number of child brides in Africa will double by 2050, and Ghana will continue to bear the unenviable position of being among the top countries with the highest rates of child marriage worldwide.

On such a Day of the African Child, Girls Not Brides Ghana will like to make it loud and clear that it is only by working together that we will end child marriage once and for all in Ghana. It is for this reason that Girls Not Brides Ghana will like to raise the following key issues for the urgent attention of all key stakeholders in the country:

1.       The Children’s Act 1998 (Act 650) does mention of ‘child marriage’ but with little deterrent or punitive measures against all who perform, permit or promote child marriage. There is no provision in the children act which provides for nullification of child marriage hence there is the need for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to initiate a ‘bill on early and forced marriage through Parliament to be passed into law. The bill should also address its effect on health, education, community and the economy.

2.       The Criminal Act 1960 which states the age of sexual consent at sixteen years conflicts with the age of marriage (eighteen) in the Children Act 1998.  We call on parliament to look into this conflict of laws and streamlined them to ensure that the rights of children are well protected.

It should be noted that time is ticking andif we do nothing to accelerate progress, the number of child brides in Ghana is expected to double by 2025 as compared to the present figures, and all efforts towards improving girl-child education, maternal mortality, gender equality and poverty will all be in vain.

Sign:

Dr. Ndonwie Peter                Ms Linda LaribaAtibila                                Ms Eunice EfuaAmankwah

National Executive Secretary          National Finance and Fundraising Officer        Member GNB-Ghana

0203507940 / 0543305470            0509095932 / 0247720704                                0242782436

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Meet Suila Aruna; The Visionary at the Helm of Nkum Council

 The American writer, William Menninger has outlined six essential qualities that are key to a successful man. In referring to the mayor of Nkum Council as a simple man and personality of the moment, it would be proper to contextualize his manners with Menninger six essential qualities of a good and simple man. The qualities are sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom and charity which constitute factors that make somebody successful. The Mayor of Nkum has a prescribed amount of these qualities and holds them close to his heart. These qualities are his assets. In Mathew’s gospel Christ is quoted as saying that ‘where your treasure lies there will your heart lie also’. The Chinese thinker, Lao Tzu has redefined these treasures which are essential qualities for a success in the oft-quoted passage: ‘I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility-which keeps me from putting myself before others’. He goes further to enumerate the gifts of all this qualities: ‘Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and can be liberal-avoid putting yourself before others and you become a leader among men’.
His simplicity comes from the fact that he is more a man of action than a man of words. He would not start something that he would not finish. He would prefer not to initiate an action than to leave it half way. Everywhere he has visited ever since he was elected mayor, he has been noted for this character mannerism. Aruna’s simplicity at times makes him teach by example. If he thinks his colleague, collaborator and or someone in the municipality do not understand him, he would demonstrate by example. This is a rare quality to find in today’s elected officials. Suila Aruna is more of a practical politician who can fit squarely in private and productive enterprise than in routine political work. His blood flows constantly. To understand this one must revisit his political career to see where he is coming from: After graduating from the then University of Yaounde in flying colours, Suila Aruna took up politics. He was elected councilor and that same year, he was elected by his peers as 2nd Deputy Mayor of the then Kumbo Rural Council. He was not only the youngest councilor but was very instrumental in accompanying development process. When the then Kumbo Rural council was named Nkum council, and its headquarter moved to Taum, Suila Aruna also moved the ladder to the position of 1st Deputy Mayor. After several years deputizing, he was recently elected Mayor.

The most interesting thing about simplicity is that it is not what you do or say but how people see you that make you a simple man. We have people in Cameroon that have named their businesses and projects as simplicity while they are some citizens who call themselves ‘simple men/women’ but have ended up being the most difficult set of people to deal with. By qualifying the Mayor of Nkum Council, Suila Aruna as an incomparable simple mayor in recent times is to accentuate the point that unlike other elected officials, he walks the talk and talks the walk. He is so straight forward and open to a point that those who thrive in subversive activities would wrap up that he is a difficult man. Given that Suila Aruna does not say one thing and mean the other.

The Mayor with a Vision
Suila Aruna is by all means a gentleman who is not only bold and liberal but also a leader by his own rights. As mayor of Nkum Council, he already is entering into records for his gentleness and sincerity. As a leader, Aruna understands the importance of the bigger picture even as he does not close his eyes to petty details. Wearing the mayoral shoes for just two years now, he has done more than any other single mayor has ever done in that council area. He took over the leadership of the council with jam-packed experience and with a big vision; that of giving Nkum council area the place it deserves in the North West Region and in Cameroon. To suggest that Mayor Aruna has not done much is to ignore the facts and evade the realities about Nkum Council area. This is so because he has within a very short time demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubts that he has the vision, the will and the determination to assist in the transformation of the local community in Nkum. The most fascinating thing is that he has made councilors to understand that being there for each other counts more when each community benefits from development projects. His objectives for Nkum council are noble, his methods civil. In managing affaires in Nkum council he seeks the truth as his defining achievement. The visionary leader of the Nkum council area has as determination to improve upon the welfare of his brothers and sisters. His exceptional understanding of the challenges that confront the Council area has also shaped his vision.
Today Suila is the arrowhead for the growth of the Sub Division. Reason why the SDO for Bui Nzekie Theophile is on record to have scored Suila Aruna as the best Mayor in the Division. He even went further to urge other mayors to consult him when in difficulties. The 2014 administrative, stores and financial accounts of the Nkum council were exemplary. As priority, his fundamental mission has been to widen the circle of opportunity for his brothers and sisters back home. That is why, with is deep understanding that ‘knowledge is power’ he went on to intensify his collaboration with PNDP, FEICOM and EU Rural Development Project. Meet him in his office and you would be surprised that he acts as a catalyst for the development of the area. No work meant for today, he says would wait for tomorrow. Its weaknesses notwithstanding, the mere introduction of this modern development mobilization tool remain a step in the right direction yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Aruna Opens New Page for Nkum
His new style in council management leaves many surprised. He has constructed and successfully handed over many classrooms and benches to schools and colleges in the locality. With him many farm-to-market roads have been opened up and some rehabilitated. The vast nature of Nkum Council area which extends right down to Mbam and Kuvluh has not intimidated him. Rather it has strengthened his resolve to roll off his sleeves and let things done. In this light he is reaching out to their demands progressively and as means provide given that the most beautiful woman can only offer what she has got. More Council staff has been enlisted in a bid to curb unemployment in the community. This silent locomotive is an achiever as seen in his support to all village development associations in the area. Health is wealth, it is said. That is why he has embarked in seeing that health centres are rehabilitated and equipped to response to the need of the population. Last May 20th and May 26th he was praised for the high mobilization the SDF showcased at National Day celebration and 25 anniversary of his party, SDF. For this and others we say bravo mayor Suila Aruna. The future is bright. Like every elected official would tell you, his mission is to maintain law and order and to promote development. He could also add that he fights high crime wave and disorder in public places. But Aruna is more practical, whenever it concerns peace and solidarity. He was personally present when the SDF fundraised over FCFA 31 million to support soldiers fighting Boko Haram.
Suila Aruna is no different even as he adds a human and friendly touch to his mission statement. This mission statement can only come from somebody who wants to make the difference. And the difference is clear in Nkum since he became mayor. No sooner did he arrive than he squarely addressed the thorny issue of hygiene and sanitation thereby reducing the incidence of cholera in Nkum sub division.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

National Communication Council: Beyond Right and Wrong

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Sharks, it is stated play a very important role in the oceans in a way that an average fish does not. This is so because sharks are at the top of the food chain in virtually every part of every ocean. In the Cameroon media landscape that role is bestowed on the National Communication Council-NCC. Like the shark, NCC may not have been selective on who to prey on very efficiently. Though the shark uses intimidation to regulate the behavior of prey species, and prevent them from overgrazing vital habitats, NCC depends on sanctions to normalize the media. When Late Bishop Befe Ateba was appointed to head the National Communication Council most Cameroonians, especially members of the press corps saw in him a Daniel come to judgment. They erroneously thought that being a man of God, he would be the light of truth and encourages initiatives that would enhance effective communication, not stifle it. His decision to revive the Pungent Article 13 of the 1990 Liberty Law was regarded as another white shark thrown back into the ocean to prey on the small fish population.
It worked and worked extremely well until lately when the shark attacked the big fish in the ocean, the case of Le Messager, L’Emergence and Mutation Newspapers thrive. The attempt to carefully eat them like the small fish has become a hard nut. Another case in point that continue to attract worries of why the headiness is that of Afrique Media which like a toddler has completely ignored NCC sanctions. Critics have been wondering whether it is right for NCC to shut down media houses given that there are countless ways of regulating the media. On the other hand, impressionists think Afrique Media for example allows panelists to air out their views without pull-backs and it infringes. Yet the President of the National Syndicate of Cameroon Journalists, Denis NKWEBO is quoted on the social media to have exploded that the mandate of Peter ESOKA as interim Chairman of NCC ended on December 4, 2014, six months Befe Ateba kicked the bucket. Thus Esoka’s decisions are null and void.
The main issue is not only that the regime is very comfortable to see journalists at loggerhead. Killing the mainstream media is giving room to citizen journalism to thrive. The emergence and popularisation of the social media, which allows anyone with a Smartphone to play at journalism and “break” a news story as it happens seems to ease the opportunity in the scuffle to make their days.
Many have undoubtedly been attracted to the profession by the romantic aura that surrounds the news rooms of the 20th century where the fiddling of expenses exists in stark contrast to the ascetic drive of today’s sharp-elbowed gimmicks. Implicitly, the social media is making its mark. At a certain point in time, one young journalist asked me whether blogging is equivalent to publishing. This was when the issue of “North West Active Publishers” was hotly debated on. I can proudly remind my little friends that time changes and not only are we saying goodbye to the entire 20th Century newsroom aura, there is general agreement that newspapers will, sooner or later, cease to exist at all in their current form.
Differences of opinion mainly concern how structures like NCC will use the internet to return to profitability in its actions. Even if I publish this edition and NCC decides to ban me for life, modernity just transformed me to a blogger– surely I am only bringing this issue to the attention of those young boys. And that’s partly true of course. But only partly. It’s not my job prospects that you should be worried about (thanks all the same). Of greater concern is what would become of NCC when the big fish snubs their decisions. Cameroonians already favour the rich, powerful and glamorous over the poor, weak and unfashionable. And one suspects that the gulf between NCC and the media will increase and to maybe put one on the gutter. The collapse of NCC is almost certainly inevitable. For a structure whose decisions are challenged to fight against it would be the equivalent of setting fire to reams of bank notes, and they certainly aren’t going to do that. The worst of it all is that the internet will bring with it a flowering of innovative citizen journalism. And if they survive to play the regulators the future our media will probably resemble the establishment talking to itself, and if that’s the case we will all be worse off, not only us hacks, but with them.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Insubordination by Gov’t Officials:Time for President Biya to Step In (Edito The Eye No 88 Vol II)

President Biya: Will he step in?

 By Fai Cassian Ndi
 Wikipedia defines insubordination as the act of willfully disobeying one’s superior. Refusing to perform an action that is unethical or illegal is not insubordination; neither is refusing to perform an action that is not within the scope of authority of the person issuing the order. Insubordination is generally a punishable offense in hierarchical organizations which depend on people lower in the chain of command doing what they are expected to do. Recent happenings within government cycles have shown that when officials mislead selves about the limits of their powers, there is bound to be insubornation and disrespect of hierarchy. The manner at which some Cameroon government officials have gone wild needs some special attention from the head of state. It is very imperative for President Paul Biya to wage in because at least for some of these senseless officials to have clear-cut ideas about which branch of government does what, how the powers counterbalances one another and why they are supposed to respect hierarchy. We have observed that of late some public officials have exhibited behaviors and exercised powers that no dutiful acolyte of “Schoolhouse Rock!” would recognize. Even though pessimists are of the opinion that the Biya regime is suffocating from serious “identity crisis”; at the level of The Eye we believe that it would be timely for President Biya to put an end to this notion whereby every official thinks he/she is independent and or autonomous.
This stupid notion has ignited series of delusions, or perhaps misunderstandings, about who’s actually responsible for what.
Some Ministers and Director Generals seem to believe they are mathematicians, capable of reversing the rules of arithmetic in hierarchy. Many of them who have been using similarly magical arithmetic for a while now like Ama Tutu Muna, the Minister of Arts and Culture who ignored the Prime Minister’s instructions to create SOCACIM, Meva’a Meboutou who has made himself a demi-god above senate executive, Prof. Edukat Tafah of the University of Bamenda who thinks Fame Jacque Ndongo instructions cannot be respected to admit students on the waiting list at HiTL, Sani Tanimou of Elecam who sees himself as running an independent body at Elections Cameroon, The other day it was the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister, and somedays ago, It was Senate President and House Speaker (on who is the second in command) etc etc. In fact, if the head of state cannot step in to put an end to this cacophony, the time is also at hand for the Yang Philemon to create a school attached to the Linguistic Centres of the Prime Ministry to dish out lessons to some of these public officials and walk them through what their legally defined duties and responsibilities, and boundaries to those duties and responsibilities are.
In some countries, showing poor discipline and gross insubordination, or turning back on a boss is considered a rebellion, even disloyalty and worthy of the most rigorous punishments, up to and including jail or worse. There is therefore the need for some order to reign within government cycles to avoid such public drama.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Insubordination at ELECAM:Fonkam Azu’u Indicts Tanimou

Few months ago, all the ELECAM Divisional heads (including some council heads) in the North West and South West Regions appeared before a “kangaroo” disciplinary committee concocted by the Director General of Elections, Sani Tanimou. After being bullied into submission, they were all slammed eight days suspension for attending  an “illegal training” workshop on the invitation of the President of ELECAM, Fonkam Azu’u. This is however indicative that the brouhaha between the President of ELECAM and Director General of Elections has finally reached the climax with Anglophones working at ELECAM being scape-goated.
In prelude to his tour of the seven Divisions of the North West Region to assess the level of registration as well as review the electoral registrar, Dr. Fonkam Azu’u had time to address some of these pertinent issues with journalists in Bamenda. This was during a Press Conference that took place on June 5, 2015 at the regional office of ELECAM.
In his preliminary Press statement, he decried the fact that some political parties are not very serious in wooing voters to register in the electoral registrar. He said that the fact that there is no calendar announcing elections for this year is not an excuse. He added that the head of state decide to call the people to the polls for a referendum and if any such thing happens, some electors will be hooked. He said that the advantage political parties in Cameroon have and have not been exploiting is that while in other countries election matters are handled exclusively by the election body, in Cameroon; political parties are stakeholders in the process. He commended the Cameroon model which is participatory. He revealed that the North West tops chart in the country with Mezam registering the highest number of voters. Some 22.821 new voters were registered and Bamenda II council where unfortunately its council head was sacked recorded the highest number of voters. But curiously, the ELECAM council Head for Bda was sacked. In a general appraisal, Dr. Fonkam Azu’u revealed that youths ages 20-35 years constitute 82.17% of the total number of registered voters.
In response to clear the air on the conflict between the Board and the Directorate of elections that has stifled activities, led to arbitrary dismissal and suspension of staffs, Dr. Fonkam Azu’u told journalists that the electoral code stipulates that all what the directorate of elections does is under the board but wondered loudly why a subordinate should give a contrary opinion to a decision taken by hierarchy. Dr. Fonkam Azu’u Samuel who was flanked by Dr. Nsangou Issafo (Board member) said that from the way things are unfolding at ELECAM, the structure seems to harbor two independent bodies. He added that the only thing that spells out the preordain roles and responsibilities of each and everyone is the law. He emphasized that in the case of ELECAM, the base is the electoral code. Drawing inspiration from the electoral code, Fonkam Azu’u vomited that the law is very clear on that. It is impossible “That President Biya appointed 18 people to be rubbished? This can happen only in ELECAM”. Dr. Fonkam Azu’u further justified his statement by adding that one doesn’t need to be a jurist to understand that the electoral board and the directorate of elections are two organs with one operating under the other. The situation he reiterated is getting worst given that those who refuse to act on the whims and caprices of the DG have been slammed sanctions. He cited the case of Divisional heads in the North West and South West Regions who were each slammed eight days and their salaries slashed for attending capacity building workshops that ELECAM did not spent a dime. “The first thing is that you do not sanction without a query”. None of them he revealed received a query or was ever told why they were summoned to travel to Yaounde. “What is the offence that they committed?-that is not how administration is done”. To Fonkam, the staffs were bullied into submission and that is what is being brandished today.
“It should have been me not the poor staff”.  The Eye is aware that Tanimu’s sanctions are mostly directed towards Anglophones. According to ELECAM Boss, Sani Tanimou had in violation of the electoral law appointed and installed even some regional heads.  When a subordinate in the administrative hierarchy can take upon himself to obstruct the execution of an act duly taken by a superior authority; it does not only constitutes a clear case of insubordination but can be rightly interpreted as done in total disregard and disrespect for the president of the republic who appointed him to that position. After the clarification and indictment, Fonkam Azu’u said the crisis was going through an “internal examination” for a resolution.
The Eye is also aware that the Divisional head for Ngoketunjia, Council head for Santa and Bamenda II are the latest victims. Even though the position of a director general of elections has sweeping administrative and financial powers, indicators are rife at that Sani Tanimou has waged a tug of war with Fonkam to establish that he too can.  Even though the law stipulates that he (Tanimou) operates under the authority of the board headed by a president to “ensure the smooth functioning of Elections Cameroon, the Director General of Elections has been rubbishing all the actions by the board. There is no gainsaying that Sani’s disrespect for the ELECAM electoral board and insubordination is another form of Anglophone marginalization. Dr. Fonkam Azu’u not have said it during the Press Conference but public opinion holds that Sani Tanimou’s headiness is not unconnected to the fact that Fonkam is Anglophone. Fonkam further revealed that the Regional Head for Littoral was threatened when he was contacted to attend one of the seminars. It should be recalled that the Kribi seminar was organized with funding from the African Union same goes with some five elecam staffs who attended another training workshop on election matters in South Africa and Korea. Dr. Fonkam Azu’u went further to lament that one Anglophone regional head was deprived of his special allowance on grounds that he refused to submit to the dictates of the Director General of election. Tongues are still waging in the North West and South as to why Tanimou has taken upon himself to obstruct the execution of several activities duly planned and deliberated by a superior organ. Classified sources say Tanimou’s plans to frustrate the Board have been succeeding smoothly but may soon hit the rock. A case in point is the annual meeting with stakeholders that has not held for a long time now. ELECAM Board chairman even told journalists in Bamenda that the annual meeting with stakeholders could not take place due to circumstances beyond their control. Besides, he (Tanimou) relies on the South solidarity given that he hails from the same region with the head of state.
Some years back, Fonkam rightly said, that the crisis is not between him and Sani. It is a problem between the directorate general and the board caused by the law designed to brew such conflicts. But actually, Anglophones working with Elections Cameroon have been caught in the mess and are being victimized.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Finance Minister Clashes With Director of Costumes Again

 Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey has issued a radio communique to reverse recent appointments by the Director of Costumes, Minette Libom Li Likeng on grounds that he (Ousmane Mey) was not consulted by his subordinate. The communique which was read over CRTV has exposed the cracks between the two. It should be recalled that some months ago, Minette Libom Li Likeng refused to proceed with the installation of an official in charge of auditing appointed by the boss. The said auditor we learnt has been abandoned to himself ever since he was appointed. The issue we were also informed has been reported to the Prime Minister. A classified source hinted this reporter that when the Director of Costumes did the appointment, she hurriedly moved out of the country. The Yang led government is seemingly in serious difficulties when judged from the number of conflicts between top officials.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)