The workshop, organized by Agona East Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), forms part of a-two- year advocacy programme being sponsored by UNICEF in six targeted regions of the country.
It was aimed at promoting the rights and the protection of children to ensure that the incidences of child marriages are eliminated and child protection efforts are integrated in the social structure.
The participants said child marriages are a major concern for the society, adding that the appropriate state authorities should give harsh punishments to parents or family members who give out such children for marriage to serve as deterrents to others.
They also called on the assembly to establish committees in various communities to help educate people on the effects and dangers of child marriages.
The participants appealed to parents and family members to use their limited resources on the education of the child and avoid using them on extravagant social activities.
Dr. B. B. B Bingab, a Senior Lecturer of the University of Education Winneba, who was the resource person at the workshop, said despite the convictions of perpetrators of child marriages, some attitudes such as indecent dressing by the children remains unchanged.
He said it is crime to give out a child under 18 years to marry and added that parents should have time for their children and offer the needed guidance and counseling to them.
Mr Joshua-Luther Ndoye Upoalkpajor, Agona East District Director of the NCCE, said child marriage and other forms of abuse in the country should be the concern of all and urged the participants to utilize the knowledge they have acquired at the workshop to help eliminate the menace of child marriages.
Source: GNA/News Ghana
