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Vigrous education reduces child marriages in the Zongos – Ashiaman Zongo Chief
Vigorous education has led to drastic reduction of child marriages in the Zongos, Alhaji Ibrahim Salisu Sofo Yaro, Ashaiman Municipal Zongo Chief has said.
According to him, this practice was prevalent in the Muslim communities but through educational programmes, parents no longer saw the need to engage their daughters in child marriage.
Despite this feat, the zongo chief said they were not resting on their oars and would start massive education on the need to end child marriages.
He, however, said what had been a challenge to the project was financial constraint and, therefore, appealed to well-meaning people to come on board to support the initiative.
He said constant education on the subject was key because if the society wanted the best out of its women, it was about time it stopped marrying them off at a tender age.
Alhaji Yaro said people should also stop believing in the misconception that when a woman attained a higher education, she might not get a husband.
He gave the admonishment in an interview with The Spectator on Tuesday as a leader and a parent to drum home the negative impact the practice on society.
He said children should not be rushed into marriage because it placed a huge burden on them.
He questioned how a child could take care of another child and said that it resulted in both children (mother and child) being denied quality life which in the long round could affect their physical and mental health.
The Municipal Zongo Chief said what was more disheartening was that the girls were sometimes married off to men who were three times or more of their ages.
He said it was common to hear people hide behind economic issues to justify why they had to give away their girls in marriage which was unfortunate.
He said the point such parents kept missing was that if the girls were more educated they could be in better position to address the economic challenges of those parents.
He observed that when professionals from various fields were being mentioned, the Zongo Community was constrained and so there was the need to break away from that unfortunate norm.
He said it was about time people upheld the belief of Islam that early and forced marriage violated human rights and sanctity of marriage.
Alhaji Yaro said he had in his own small way educated some parents to desist from the act and successfully achieved his objective of getting more girls in school.
He said if the community got the neccessary support it could do better to nib the trend of child marriage in the bud.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman.
News
GBBF assistant treasurer, Aurora Commodore-Toppar eyes GOC Treasure slot at Elective Congress on Saturday
The Assistant treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBBF), Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar, has set her sights on becoming the next assistant treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) at the upcoming Elective Congress on Saturday.
The daughter of the former Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mr. Emmanuel Martey Commodore-Mensah, will be vying for the position against Bernard Quartey of the Ghana Boxing Federation and Edward Patrick Nii Lante Banerman of the Handball Association of Ghana.
Having had her nomination approved by the GOC’s Electoral Commission, the well-seasoned banker, with over 15 years of rich working experience, believes she is well-suited and positioned to help structure the finances of this esteemed organisation.
In a chat with Spectator Sports, the captain of the bronze-winning 2024 University of Ghana basketball team at the 11th African University Games in Zaire, Nigeria, revealed her commitment to effective and accurate financial management, growth, and development of all associated sports federations.
She said, “I am committed to the growth of the GOC, and I want to offer my financial knowledge to aid in ensuring that the GOC operates with the highest standards of financial governance and set-up.”
According to her, the mission is to help promote the GOC’s agenda widely, and having served for over two decades in sports—especially basketball—in various capacities and roles, she believes this experience will help protect the GOC’s finances.
“If elected as assistant treasurer, I will do my utmost, together with the treasurer, to manage the GOC’s finances, including accounting and financial reporting among others,” she added.
According to her, “Accurate financial record-keeping has been a problem across the board; I will help eradicate this issue.”
Aurora Commodore-Toppar stands for transparency, hard work, and an inclusive work culture, she further added.
The former Aburi Girls’ Secondary School basketball team captain has played pivotal roles in improving sports in the country—especially basketball—including being a member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2023 Africa Games, an LOC member for the recently concluded Hoop Rave SHS competition, a project lead for FIBA’s “Her World, Her Rules” initiative, chair for the 2024 Fetu Afahye Basketball Tournament, and founder of the Stomp De Yard Basketball Tournament, among others.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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113 Cardinals hold 3rd General Congregation in Rome
The 113 Cardinals present in Rome held the third General Congregation on Thursday morning, and announced who will deliver the two pre-conclave meditations.
The Cardinals decided that Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will celebrate the Mass on the sixth day of the Novemdiales, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
They agreed that Fr. Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will deliver the first meditation on Monday, and that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation at the beginning of the conclave, whose starting date has not yet been decided.
The Cardinals began a conversation about the Church and the world, deciding to hold the next General Congregation on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that 61,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope Francis as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, adding that St. Peter’s Basilica should close at midnight on Thursday, unless large crowds are still queuing to enter.
Following the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, April 26, a Rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
Mr. Bruni said the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private.
Starting the morning of Sunday, April 27, the faithful may begin to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
