Paramount Chief urges men to participate fully in their children’s education

The supreme chief of the traditional Chiana zone in the western district of Kassena-Nankana called on Ghanaian men to show concern and get involved in the proper education of their children.

Pe Dituudini Adiana Ayagitam III, who is also president of the Upper East Region House of Chiefs, said parenting is a collective responsibility of both parents.

He said it was necessary to feed a child well, instill good moral values ​​and also provide discipline to allow him to integrate well into society.

This, he added, would not only allow children to grow up to be responsible citizens, contribute significantly to the development of the nation and also promote love between families.

Pe Ayagitam III made this appeal when he met his subordinate and divisional leaders and queen mothers in Chiana at an awareness forum hosted by Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a non-governmental organization .

It is part of the NGO’s efforts to put an end in particular to teenage pregnancies and child marriage among the inhabitants of the region.

The awareness was part of a four year project called “ENOUGH! Empower women, girls, boys and men to take positive action to end gender-based sexual violence in Ghana, Liberia and Mali. “

The project was implemented by RISE-Ghana in partnership with Oxfam Ghana and Women in Law and Development (WiLDAF) with funding from the European Union (EU).

Pe Ayagitam III identified single parenthood as a major cause of teenage pregnancy and child marriage in the region, as parents were unable to care for their wards, hence unable to control them, leading to rebels.
He stressed the importance of love within families as a catalyst to reduce and promote healthy lifestyles.

He therefore advocated prenatal and postnatal classes for men as well.
This, he said, would push men to get involved in the birthing processes of their children, support their wives and help husbands go through certain events related to child rearing.

The supreme leader who pledged to support the campaign against society and gender-based violence (SGBV), said he would push his support for the regional house of chiefs ”.

He urged traditional authorities to eliminate or modify certain socio-cultural practices that give rise to gender-based violence, in particular teenage pregnancy and child marriage.

Mr. Awal Ahmed Kariama, Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, said that sexual and gender-based violence, especially child marriage and teenage pregnancy, is on the increase and requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders to address it. reduce.

He said traditional authorities who wielded great influence could play an active role, including enacting and punishing those who commit sexual and gender-based violence, to deter others.

He urged chiefs and queen mothers to join the awareness campaign to educate their people, especially parents on how to care for their children, to help ensure a better future and protect rights. women and girls prone to sexual and gender-based violence.

“This will create an enabling environment for women and girls, especially to know, claim and exercise their rights to end the threat and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goals three, four and five, ”he added.