Connect with us

News

 Silence box fighting violence, forced marriages in the Nanumba North District.

The silence box
The silence box

Aisha, a 16-year-old girl’s prefect of Montanaya Junior High School in the Nanumba North district in the Northern Region, is among hun­dreds of girls in rural communities, where a simple metal box kept in a safe room in their school is offering a lifeline for many innocent girls.

To the untrained eye, it looks ordi­nary. It’s just a box with a narrow slit at the top, but to the teenage girls, it is a silent witness and a keeper of secrets. “This is the Violence Report­ing Box.

In Nabuli, violence was once an unspoken norm for decades, where issues of domestic abuse, child mar­riage, and gender-based violence were swept under the carpet.

The victims bore their pain in silence, fearing banishment when such issues were reported to powerful community elders.

Advertisement

It was installed as part of a commu­nity driven initiative, spearheaded by ActionAid and implemented by songta­ba, a local base NGO.

Madam Hamida Kukuna, the Com­munity Officer for Songtaba at Nabuli said the box does not judge, but only listen, trying to address your issue if you have been wronged.

She indicated that every week, trained volunteers discreetly emptied the box, forwarding reports to a team of social workers and law enforcement officers stationed in the district cap­ital, after victims of violence anony­mously slip handwritten notes into the box.

“At first, the box was a curiosity, where children giggled as they looked at it, and villagers questioned its pur­pose”, she said.

Advertisement

Ms Hamida continue that for weeks it remained empty, then after one rainy evening, she saw a footprint towards the box so she opened it and saw a piece of paper inside.

It stated “He comes every night when my mother is away. I am only 12, Please help me.”

The volunteers acted swiftly and that led to the identification of the girl and rescued her from her abusive uncle, who was later arrested.

The news spread quickly, and for the first time, the people of Nabuli real­ised the power of this silent box.

Advertisement

Soon, more notes followed, as a wife who had been battered for years sought help and a father reported his daughter’s forced marriage to a much older man.

According to Hamida, the box be­came a beacon of hope, an outlet for the voiceless.

Moreover, she said within a year the box has facilitated the rescue of over 30 individuals from abusive situations.

“It has also triggered critical con­versations about violence, gender roles, and justice in the community, she added.

Advertisement

Mrs Beatrice Yanman Biije, a Pro­grammes Officer at ActionAid Ghana at the Tamale office stated that vil­lage council, once complicit in silenc­ing victims, began working with the authorities in creating a safe place for the teenagers.

She said one of the most remarkable transformations was when a 26-year-old mother of two, after years of beatings from her husband, wrote a note to the box with the help of a teacher.

“Her story inspired the creation of a women’s cooperative, offering skills training and support to survivors of abuse,” she said.

She added that, the initiative faced hurdles, where some villagers accused the box of encouraging rebellion and breaking families apart, said an elder in the community.

Advertisement

“Others tried to sabotage it, spread­ing rumors and threatening volun­teers, but the tide was turning with each life saved, the community’s support grew stronger”, she added.

The success of the violence report­ing box in Nabuli caught the attention of many schools in the communities around who are working on getting a metal box.

The box stands as a testament to what happens when silence is bro­ken, when whispers become voices, and when justice is given a chance to thrive, even in the most unlikely places.

 From Geoffrey Buta, Nabuli

Advertisement

News

𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫

The Boundary Commission of Ghana, led by the Commissioner General, Major General Emmanuel Kotia (Ph.D), paid a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, at his office in Accra.

Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak welcomed the delegation and expressed his appreciation for the Commission’s efforts in maintaining Ghana’s territorial integrity. 

The Minister assured the Commission of the Ministry’s continued support and collaboration in their endeavors.

Major General Kotia emphasised the Commission’s crucial role in identifying border crossing boundaries, which guides security agencies in carrying out their duties across various borders, ensuring national security and stability.

He also expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the cooperation the Commission has had in addressing boundary-related issues with the Ministry and Ghana Immigration Service.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

CSA working closely with X to restore President Mahama’s page

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has provided an update on President Mahama’s Twitter page hack.

According to them in a statement today, in the early hours of Monday, March 17, 2025, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) received a report concerning the compromise of President John Dramani Mahama’s X (formerly Twitter) account, @JDMahama. 

According to them, the account has been used to promote a cryptocurrency called “Solana Africa”.

They revealed, “We understand the public concern this incident has generated and are actively addressing the situation. “

Advertisement

The Authority noted that they are working closely with X and other relevant stakeholders to

address this incident and prevent future occurrences.

The CSA will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending