The Upper West Regional Director at the Department of Children, Matilda Chireh has painted a disturbing picture about the continuous practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the region. Madam Chireh mentioned that due to coordinated efforts from the concerned governmental and non-governmental agencies, the cases of FGM were minimized.
Madam Chireh was therefore taken aback about the sudden resurgence of the disease in the region despite the continuous education.
In an interview on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Children blamed the practice on the shameful continuance of harmful cultural inclinations.
In a rather interesting twist, Madam Chireh disclosed that communities in the Lawra, Wa West and other areas around the border town troop to neighbouring Burkina Faso to engage in the act while Burkina Faso nationals also visit the Upper West Region for same.
“The situation is worrying. We have spoken to some of the officials in Burkina Faso and it looks like their people move to part of the Upper West Region to undertake such acts. Then we also realized that people from around the borders [in the Upper West Region] move to Burkina Faso. It like some exchange activity”.
“It is within the Wa West District, some of the areas in the Lawra and Nandom border towns,” she said.
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Madam Chireh explained that the only way around the situation is to heighten sensitization campaigns. She said the explanation that the FGM prevent promiscuity amongst women is untenable, thus the need to completely abolish such acts.
She called for a coordinated ‘attack’ against the menace in an attempt to protect the rights of women and girls.
A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith |Bolgatanga|Ghana
