The government is working closely with the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to take full ownership of the proposed Child Marriage Bill in order to facilitate its speedy passage and effective implementation, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has disclosed.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held on Tuesday, September 15, Dr Lartey said the move is necessary to overcome the legislative challenges that stalled the bill in the Eighth Parliament.
According to the Gender Minister, the bill, which was initially introduced as a Private Member’s Bill, suffered a major setback due to constitutional limitations regarding bills with financial implications being introduced by private members.
“The bill suffered in the last Parliament, that is the Eighth Parliament. The Attorney-General took it up for government to own it. That is what we want to do,” Dr Lartey explained.
She noted that government ownership of the bill will make the legislative process easier, faster and more sustainable, as it will address the financial concerns and ensure adequate budgetary allocation for its implementation.
“Because of the financial implications of the bill coming as a private member’s bill, we are encouraging all the MPs who are supporting the bill to work with the AG, so that government can own it and make the process easier and faster, and therefore also getting it implemented will be better for us,” she stated.
Legislation Alone Not Enough
Dr Lartey, however, cautioned that the passage of the law alone will not be sufficient to completely eliminate child marriage in Ghana.
She stressed that child marriage is a deeply rooted socio-cultural practice that often occurs within homes and communities, and therefore requires a multi-faceted approach beyond legislation.
“Legislation alone would not be sufficient to eliminate child marriage,” the Minister emphasized.
To this end, she revealed that her Ministry is intensifying engagement with key stakeholders including community opinion leaders, religious leaders, traditional authorities and civil society organizations to strengthen public awareness and build community support for efforts to end the practice.
The Ministry is also working with relevant agencies to provide support and safe reintegration for victims and vulnerable persons who may not feel safe returning to their communities after escaping child marriages.
Dr Lartey reaffirmed government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of children, particularly girls, and assured that a combination of strong legislation, sustained community engagement, and comprehensive support systems will be deployed to end child marriage in Ghana.
