The UN agency is partnering with regional offices of the Department of Gender, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), Department of Social Welfare, and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to embark on a community sensitization effort to help end the practice.

The fora are being held at local communities well noted for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) occurrences, early and forced marriages, as well as cruel widowhood rites, among others.

In these communities, the sensitization focus is on traditional rulers, assembly members and other opinion leaders, to educate them on the debilitating effects of these harmful and bad cultural practices.

Speaking at one of the fora at Banda-Ahenkro, in the Banda District of Brong-Ahafo Region, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Setina Aboagye, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU, said the practice of FGM is a serious offence punishable by law.

The forum was organised by the Department of Gender with support from the UNFPA and attended by chiefs, queens, women groups, assembly members and youth groups in the district.

DSP Aboagye said it is important for participants to be watchful and report those who secretly perpetuate the practice of FGM in the local communities.

“These outmoded and harmful practices hurt, injure and humiliate victims,” she said.

DSP Aboagye said some bad customs such as burning/beheading of perceived witches, Trokosi, polygamous marriages and other related practices constituted violence against women and a violation of their personal dignity.

She said the psychological trauma victims go through was very great and called for a radical and collective approach to eliminate these practices.

Mrs Jocelyn Adii, the acting Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Department of Gender, called on traditional rulers, as the embodiment of the people, to support the fight against these harmful cultural practices.

She also called on religious leaders to ensure effective collaboration with traditional authorities and opinion leaders to help bring the situation under control.

Okokyeredom Kwadjo Sito I, the Paramount Chief of Banda Traditional Area, thanked the organisers of the forum, and pledged the support of the traditional council in the fight against any bad cultural practices.

He said the traditional rulers needed support to educate their people on some of the harmful cultural practices and appealed for support from the government and corporate bodies.