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N/R: 16 Minors Rescued From Forced Marriages

By Starrfmonline.com
Regional News NR: 16 Minors Rescued From Forced Marriages
AUG 23, 2016 LISTEN

Over 16 under aged children married off by their parents in four communities in the Tatale- Sanguli district of the Northern region have been rescued.

The victims were rescued within a spate of three months through efforts by an individual named Simon Kweilla, a student of social welfare in Accra.

The girls aged between, 9 and 16 were forced by their fathers to marry fully grown and matured men who are mostly farmers in return for cash or material gains.

Starr News visited one of the communities, Sangban, and found that a very significant number of the girls were heavily pregnant or had babies strapped to their backs.

Two of the rescued girls speaking to Starr News’ Northern regional correspondent, Eliasu Tanko said they were not interested in the marriage but they were forced by their parents.

According to one of the girls, he was subjected to severe beatings and death threats by his father after she earlier objected to the arranged marriage.

She added that only met her husband on the day of the marriage.

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