Upper East Region Struggles with High Child Marriage Rates Despite Progress.
The Upper East Region of Ghana continues to battle high rates of child marriage, with a reported 28.7% of girls married before turning 18, which is above the national average of 19%. According to Georgina Aberese-Ako, the regional director for the Department of Children, while there has been progress in reducing the rate—down from 39.2% in 2014—poverty, traditional practices, and low educational attainment in rural areas still contribute to the persistence of child marriage. Collaborative efforts by government bodies, religious groups, and local communities have led to improvements, but there is still concern about protecting the rights of children and ensuring their welfare.
