Traditional rulers and opinion leaders
Traditional rulers and opinion leaders in the North East Region have pledged their support to the Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA) in its mission to eradicate teenage pregnancy and early marriage in the region.
PARDA, a non-profit organization operating in ten communities within the West Mamprusi Municipality, is focused on educating and empowering young boys and girls to reach their full potential and marry at the appropriate time.
In collaboration with OXFAM Ghana, under the Power 2 Choose (P2C) Project, PARDA has intensified its fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) by organizing stakeholder meetings across the region.
The pledge from traditional authorities follows an appeal by Dr. Michael Wombeogo, PARDA’s Executive Director, who called on them to support the organization’s efforts to combat SGBV within their communities.
The traditional leaders, who participated in multiple stakeholder meetings in Walewale and Nalerigu, expressed their unwavering commitment to supporting the well-being and future of young girls and boys in the area.
The health workforce in the region has also pledged its support to PARDA’s fight against SGBV.
In an interview with GhanaWeb, some traditional rulers emphasized that early marriage and teenage pregnancy remain pressing challenges in their communities and voiced their readiness to collaborate with PARDA to address these issues.
According to Fuseini James, the North East Regional Secretary of the Association of Entertainment Chiefs (Deema Naa):
“As influencers in our communities, we are committed to leveraging our positions to transform the lives of young people and create a brighter future for them. As we hold influence in our communities, we can use it to educate the youth, raise awareness, and help them build lasting legacies. This meeting allows us to do just that — to reduce teenage pregnancies and early marriages.”
The Nayiri Deema Naa, Chief Salifu Mankuwaligi, also pledged his support for PARDA’s mission, “It is our responsibility, and we will not fail them. We are committed to reducing this menace in our communities, as it is ruining the education of our youth. Together, as opinion leaders and stakeholders, we will fight this issue.”
A health professional, Mumuni Iddrisu, stressed the importance of collaboration, “From this perspective, we need strong collaboration — among the police service, NGOs like PARDA, and health personnel. This issue has been discussed, and we are sending a clear signal to the community. We will expose the culprits, and all stakeholders who matter must come together to hold them accountable.”
Through the Power 2 Choose (P2C) Project, PARDA has been providing essential support to young girls in the West Mamprusi Municipality, including the donation of sanitary pads to promote personal hygiene and preserve their dignity.
