Speaking at the commemoration event of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), to educate teenagers and major stakeholders in the fight against FGM, Mrs. Akufo Addo stated that, legislation alone is not enough to curb this outmoded traditional practice.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VnRCLxfG8mJHBExu5Jo5oyMKYBKj5mJH”]According to her, it is important to sensitize the general public on the harmful effects of the practice, in addition to ensuring the existing legislation is upheld.

“Although a variety of strategies have been implemented to discourage the practice, much still remains to be done, the protocol on the rights of women in Africa clearly articulates what government needs to do to address FGM, and ensure the rights of our female. We can use legislation, create new bodies and strengthen existing mechanism to develop and coordinate programs to end FGMs,” Mrs. Akufo Addo said.

“However, it is widely acknowledged that laws alone cannot change deeply held attitudes regarding FGMs. We must use and intensify education and outreach programs.”

The First Lady expressed her dismay with the continued practice of FGM in the country, as she highlighted the trauma the victims go through.

“Female genital mutilation is one of those terribly harmful practices suffered by girls as young as four weeks to twelve years. As a champion of the well-being of women and girls, I can’t say I’m happy that we are still having this deliberation in the year 2017,” she lamented.

“This is a practice that is so detrimental to the health, human rights, and development of our girls, that no augment should trump the consideration of the right and health of any girl. This robs females of the right over their natural sexual functions, invades their privacy as well as violates the rights to make independent decisions in matters affecting their own bodies. Apart from the difficulty encountered in sexual activity, these women are susceptible to severe pain, excessive bleeding, infection and physiological trauma that may lead to maternal mortality” she noted.

She stated that ending the menace would require urgency from responsible government agencies and strong leadership.

“Many options are available to government and other stakeholders in the fight against FGMs, we need to intensify these options if we need to progress and eliminate FGM. We must intensify our education and outreach activities to ensure prevention. We must use all the legal avenues available in our laws. We must work to ensure no girl goes through this horrifying experience, to enable us stop FGM, we need three key elements, urgency, purpose and above all leadership,” the First Lady said.

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By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Education, not just laws needed to end FGM – First Lady appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

She noted however that, due to cross-border migration, the act is still being practiced in some parts of the country.

She said this at an event which formed part of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), meant to educate the public and key stakeholders on the effects of FGM.

“Here in Ghana, we have women coming through the cross boarder programs from the Burkina into Ghana or out of Ghana into those places, all the neighboring countries. It is reducing in places largely in Ghana, but because of the cross-border activities in some places like Pusiga, there is an increase” she revealed.

“Our government also sends a strong signal to perpetrators that Africa frowns on their misdeeds; and harmful traditional practices, negative traditional practices must be condemned.”

A woman, who was a victim of FGM at the age of twelve, spoke of her ordeal and stated that the act was still ongoing, but was now being done secretively in order not to attract public scorn.

“I was twelve years when my grandmother mutilated me, I bled a lot. When I was going to give birth, I suffered, and the doctors had to use a tube to pull out the baby because he said I had no clitoris,” she narrated.

“Female genital mutilation is still ongoing in my region, but it’s done in secret. There is a new method they use, they use hot water and Shea butter and press it to the clitoris to stop it from growing. I would not do it to my child, when I give birth to a female child. I’m against it and I want the government to do something about it,” she added.

The Minister stated that, the government is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of FGM are made to face the law, adding that support systems have been put in place for victims.

“After condemning and criminalizing it, we support and put in services in the communities for sensitization, for counseling, and how we can abandon the practices,” she said.

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By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t committed to fight against FGM – Otiko Djaba appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.