The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN-Ghana) has made meaningful strides in our project aimed at ending early and forced child marriages and domestic servitude in selected communities in the Northern Region. Through community sensitization, advocacy, and strong engagement with traditional and religious leaders, the project has helped shift long‑held social norms and empower youth and women to speak up for the protection of children.
A mixed approach was used to assess the project’s impact across the communities of Gbulahagu, Chirifoyili, Diare, Kuli, and Bogkurugu. Surveys and interviews revealed significant progress: 94% of community members reported increased awareness, over 86% observed a decline in early and forced marriages, and nearly all respondents noted improvements in girls’ school retention and participation in leadership roles. Community-driven efforts such as peer mentoring clubs, watch groups, and new by-laws introduced by chiefs and religious leaders played a major role in this transformation.
Despite the achievements, challenges such as cultural barriers, limited resources, and weak institutional support still threaten long-term progress. Strengthening community systems, expanding economic opportunities for women and girls, improving collaboration with government agencies, and integrating child protection into district development plans were identified as key steps for sustaining the gains.
AFJN-Ghana and the consulting team extend their appreciation to the traditional and religious leaders, teachers, youth, community members, and field enumerators whose commitment made the assessment possible. Their collective efforts continue to inspire hope for safer, more supportive communities where children can thrive.
📄 The full project report is available in PDF format and is attached to this post.
AFJN-GHANAS-PROJECT-REPORT