{
  "id": 14917692,
  "title": "International Day of the Girl: Central Region Education Directorate calls for action to tackle child marriage, teenage pregnancy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/international-day-of-the-girl-central-region-education-directorate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T09:03:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/international-day-of-the-girl-central-region-education-directorate-calls-for-action-to-tackle-child-marriage-teenage-pregnancy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Central Regional Education Directorate has called for intensified efforts against child marriage and teenage pregnancy, which jeopardize girls' education. During the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration in Ekon, the Directorate's Girls’ Education Unit highlighted the need for community action to tackle these issues. Ekon was chosen as the event's host due to its high rates of teenage motherhood and poor learning outcomes. Dr Juliette Dufie Otami, the Central Regional Director of Education, emphasized that the Directorate's presence at the celebration was to work alongside residents to address these challenges, recognizing that the school system alone cannot resolve the problem. She urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their daughters and ensure they remained in school. The Directorate also challenged chiefs and community leaders to enforce their bylaws to protect children, urging chiefs to make their bylaws effective in the community. Furthermore, Dr Otami called on boys to support the protection of girls by respecting their rights, while teachers were encouraged to serve as protectors and role models. Priscilla Christabel Eshun, the Central Regional Girls’ Education Officer, clarified that child marriage extends beyond formal ceremonies to include informal unions where girls cohabit with adult men who can provide financial support. She appealed for collective responsibility from parents, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders to shield girls from these arrangements. Professor Georgina Yaa Oduro, a guest speaker, stressed that child marriage is a gender-based issue rooted in inequality, urging parents to take responsibility for protecting and supporting their daughters. Nana Wiabo Kwamina V, the Tufohene of the Ekon Traditional Area, emphasized the importance of parents' interest in their daughters' welfare and education. Nabeeha Erasoung Sulemana Atiah, the 2026 National Sanitation Diplomat, encouraged parents to support their daughters' educational aspirations. The stakeholders agreed that protecting girls necessitated more than policies and declarations, necessitating decisive action by all sectors of society.",
  "summary": "The Central Regional Education Directorate has called on parents, traditional authorities and communities to intensify efforts to end child marriage and early cohabitation, which expose girls to teenage pregnancy and threaten their education. The Directorate, through its Girls’ Education Unit, made the call during the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration at Ekon […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}