Upper East Chiefs 
to Fight Outmoded Customs
Ghanaian Times - March 1999

by James Addy, 



Bolgatanga, Ghana-- Chiefs in the Upper East Region will not relent In their fight against outmoded cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and incision of tribal marks which affect the health and well-being of the people.

The Bolga Naba, Martin Abilba III, gave the assurance when a team of journalists from the United Nation's Population Fund (UNFPA) headquarters in New York, USA, Europe and Ghana paid a courtesy call on him at his palace here last Tuesday.

The UNFPA team was in the country to tour UNFPA project sites including an interview with Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, First Lady and President of the 3lst December Women's Movement on their activities.

At Bolgatanga, the team inspected reproductive health projects by Rural Help Integrated a local non-governmental organization.

Answering questions, the Bolga Naba said besides its deleterious effects, the practice of female genital mutilation, had gradually outlived its usefulness since people were prepared to marry uncircumcised women.

He said although the prevalence of the FGM had reduced in the region there were still reports of people who secretly indulged in it.

While commending the government for promulgating a legislation making it a criminal offence for people to inflict any form of violence on women, the Bolga-Naba called for intensification of education to make the practitioners appreciate the harmful effects.

Dr. Erasmus Agongo, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, praised the UNFPA for sponsoring the training of 730 community leaders comprising 75 trainers and 655 traditional birth attendants as at last year.

Dr. Agongo said the UNFPA had supported community initiated clinics at Sumaduri in Bawku East, Pelungu in Bolga, Makolo in Kassena Nankana and Seniesi in the Builsa Districts.

He said the UNFPA had also supported the region with logistics like vehicles and motor-bikes which had improved the work' of District Health Management Teams, district assemblies and non-governmental organizations.


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