Together for Justice, Dignity, and Protection of Every Child”
AFJN–Ghana leads a transformative regional forum mobilizing leaders, institutions, and communities to end child marriage and domestic servitude.
From March 16th to 18th, 2026, the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) – Ghana in collaboration with Dominicans for Justice and Peace, organized an action‑driven stakeholders’ meeting in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, to address the widespread issues of child marriage and domestic servitude across Northern Ghana.
The forum, facilitated by Sr. Ignatia Sarfowaa Buaben and Rev. Fr. Maxwell Atuguba, brought together notable personalities including Sr. Eucharia Madueke, Coordinator of Women Empowerment Project, AFJN Washington DC, Dominican Father Aniedi Okure, General Promoter for Justice and Peace and Permanent Delegate to the United Nations; traditional leaders from the Upper East Region; a representative of the Regional Chief Imam; the Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ); education and health care professionals; assembly members; journalists; representatives of Christian communities, youth representatives, and parents. The purpose was to deliberate on the causes, effects, and solutions to child and forced marriage and domestic servitude in Ghana.
Moderated by Rev. Fr. Maxwell Atuguba and Sr. Faustina Yetana, the event was attended by over fifty stakeholders at the Catholic Social Centre in Bolgatanga, where professionals and advocates provided education on the drivers, consequences, and prevention of child marriage and domestic servitude.
On Monday, March 16th, the program opened with introductions of AFJN–Ghana’s core members and participating stakeholders.
Opening Remarks by Sr. Eucharia Madueke
Sr. Eucharia explained that AFJN is an international organization founded in 1980 with headquarter in Washington, DC. Its mission is to educate and advocate for just relationships with Africa, supporting African peoples in their pursuit of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. She emphasized AFJN’s commitment to serving all people without discrimination.
Quoting the Ethiopian proverb “When spider webs unite, they can tie a lion,” she urged participants to collaborate actively toward solutions. She also used the analogy of plucking an unripe mango which prevents it from developing fully to illustrate how child marriage robs children of the opportunity to grow and mature naturally.
Address by Sr. Ignatia Sarfowaa Buaben
Sr. Ignatia highlighted AFJN–Ghana’s work since its establishment in 2013 after foundational training in Saltpond. She noted that the organization has conducted various trainings, advocacy activities, forums, and campaigns to raise awareness on land grabbing, child marriage, human trafficking, domestic servitude, and other social injustices nationwide. She explained that domestic servitude often involves deceiving young people with promises of better living conditions in cities, only to subject them to exploitation without proper employment terms or compensation.
Keynote Address by Rev. Fr. Aniedi Okure, OP
Fr. Okure stressed our collective moral responsibility to prevent abuse and uphold human dignity. He reminded participants of the golden rule—do unto others what you want others to do unto you—explaining that any contrary action violates the natural order. Referencing the biblical story of the rich man and Lazarus, he emphasized that neglecting the suffering of others is a grave wrongdoing, pointing out that the rich man was condemned not because he was rich, but because of his neglect and indifference to the sufferings of Lazarus.
He noted that child marriage violates not only United Nations conventions but in particular religious and natural laws. Marriage should be a free and mutual decision between the parties, which child marriage denies. He identified contributing factors such as harmful cultural practices, religious beliefs, and poverty. Child marriage, he added, treats girls as commodities, sometimes exchanged to settle debts. He cited a case where a father married off his little daughter because he needed money to marry his third wife for himself. Since humans are created in God’s image, and endowed with special dignity, any violations and injustice against them is an injustice against God.
Fr. Okure noted also that the big age gap between the child-bride and her adult husband creates power imbalance, a master-servant relationship, increases the likelihood of violence against her, and leads to long-term emotional trauma, depression and anxiety. Overall, this power dynamics violates the dignity of the girlchild, and the rights endowed on her by God.
Legal Insights by CHRAJ Regional Director
To strengthen the discussions, Mr. Jaladeen Abdulai, Esq., Upper East Regional Director of CHRAJ, delivered a presentation on the legal framework. He explained that Ghana has laws and constitutional provisions protecting the rights of all individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults. The law prohibits forced marriage, child marriage, and defilement—offenses punishable by law.
He noted that child marriage remains prevalent, particularly in the northern regions, where 1 in 3 girls is married before age 18, compared to the national average of 1 in 5. He highlighted key causes, including poverty, low levels of education, harmful cultural traditions, teenage pregnancy, and family arrangements made without the consent of the children involved.
Mr. Abdulai added that community responses are often inadequate, with some survivors facing stigma instead of support. He also pointed out a major gap: a lack of legal assistance, mentioning that in the Northern and Upper East regions, only one government legal aid lawyer is available to support victims. He appealed to stakeholders to amplify advocacy efforts and push for more resources and personnel to combat child marriage and related abuses.
Medical Perspective by Dr. Miranda Abisiba Apo‑Era
A presentation was also delivered by Dr. Miranda Abisiba Apo‑Era of the Ghana Health Service. She reiterated the alarming rates of child marriage in the northern regions and outlined its severe impacts on girls’ education, development, health, and overall wellbeing.
She highlighted that child marriage leads to increased maternal and infant mortality due to girls’ underdeveloped bodies. The medical consequences include infections, anemia, hemorrhage, hypertension, fistula, and cephalopelvic disproportion, among others. She stressed that child marriage significantly contributes to school dropout rates and psychological trauma.
Group Discussions and Closing Activities
After the presentations, participants engaged in a lively question‑and‑answer session. They were then divided into five groups to discuss:
- How early child marriage and domestic servitude occur in their communities
- Challenges in addressing these problems
- Concrete steps to overcome these challenges
At the end of the forum, participants offered prayers and made a collective pledge to help end child marriage. The program continued in two communities on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a focus on sensitization aimed at facilitating community leaders to enact policies to address these issues.
