North East Region: Young girls call for help amid rising sexual and gender-based violence

The North East Region is grappling with disturbing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases, prompting desperate appeals from young girls for increased support from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

According to the West Mamprusi Municipal Social Welfare department, 10 SGBV cases were recorded between January and September 2024.

Also, Collins Selasi, the West Mamprusi Municipal assistant director of DOVVSU under the Ghana Police Service, revealed that 13 related SGBV cases were reported, with four convictions and ongoing jail terms.

In an exclusive interview with Asaase News, several young girls lauded Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA), a local NGO, for its tireless efforts in sensitising communities in the West Mamprusi Municipality.

Despite acknowledging PARDA’s efforts, the young girls stressed the urgent need for scaled-up support to effectively combat SGBV.

Baba Naima, CAMFED Association chairperson in Walewale, expressed concern about SGBV cases, calling for collective action from stakeholders and NGOs.

“Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in many forms have been affecting young girls in West Mamprusi and North East Region in general. For young girls, the intimate partner violence is very alarming. I have witnessed cases whereby a young boy who is a boyfriend to a girl will be abusing her only in the name of being the boyfriend,” Naima said, adding that “it is an issue that needs to be addressed.”

“As a youth advocate, I would like to encourage PARDA and thank them for the good works that they have been doing so far in mitigating cases of Gender-Based Violence. I will also encourage that they should bring on board all people whether chiefs, politicians, the government organizations in order for us to tackle this Gender-Based Violence issue,” she called for action.

Sharatu Musah, one of the young girls, also praised PARDA’s dedication to fighting SGBV but urged other NGOs to join forces.

“Gender-Based Violence is something that affects the girls, mostly those I have experience with, their education has been interrupted due to one or two things. We just have to let PARDA be involved in this initiative by educating [the youth] about SGBV,” Sharatu said.

Boweh Victoria also added her voice, saying that “Three of my colleagues in JHS3 got pregnant and dropped out of school and it is really affecting us because they cannot come back to school,” she lamented.

Reporting by Dokurugu Alhassan in the North East Region

Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).

Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).

Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.

Follow us:

X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073

Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3

LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5

Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.

YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.

Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.

#AsaaseRadio

#AsaasePa

#TheVoiceofOurLand

The post North East Region: Young girls call for help amid rising sexual and gender-based violence appeared first on Asaase Radio.