The Africa Faith and Justice Network Ghana (AFJN-Ghana) organized a three-day advocacy workshop to combat child marriage and domestic servitude. Held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Sunyani from 3rd to 5th September 2024, the workshop brought together over sixty participants, including religious leaders, social service organizations, parents, and youth advocates.
Under the leadership of Sr. Ignatia S. Buaben, National Coordinator of AFJN-Ghana, distinguished resource persons shared valuable insights. Dominican Father Aniedi Okure, General Promoter for Justice and Peace, and Permanent Delegate of the Dominicans to the United Nations, emphasized the need to end harmful cultural practices and myths that facilitate child marriage and domestic servitude, and perpetuate inequality and exploitation of vulnerable people. He highlighted the importance of Africans reclaiming their dignity. Ms. Glennan Lois Boakye-Yiadom, an astute lawyer, discussed legal responses to child marriage, citing the 1992 Constitution and the 1998 Children’s Act of Ghana.
The workshop highlighted the devastating impact of child marriage and domestic servitude on victims, emphasizing the importance of enforcing laws to protect children. Participants were encouraged to report cases of child marriage and domestic servitude to authorities, such as the Police, Social Welfare Office, or Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
The group paid a courtesy call on Bishop Mathew Akwasi Gyamfi, the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani Diocese, and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference, and communicated to him the issues addressed at the workshop, and the pollution of water sources across the country by miners. The bishop commended AFJN-Ghana’s efforts and encouraged participants to leverage their newfound knowledge to advocate for human dignity and combat exploitation. Participants thanked Sr. Ignatia S. Buaben and the facilitators for organizing the impactful workshop.
AFJN-Ghana’s vision is to promote justice, peace, and human rights in Ghana and Africa, empowering people to be agents of societal transformation and the common good of all persons.
Photos of the workshop are attached below:
