The leadership of the Sakai community in the Sissala East Municipality has announced a “zero-tolerance” policy against activities hindering girl-child education, including an immediate ban on late-night “record dances.” In a formal communique addressed to the Sissala East Municipal Assembly and local law enforcement, the community authorities also instituted a GHC 4,000.00 fine for individuals who elope with or impregnate school girls.

The move aims to curb the rising cases of teenage pregnancy and school dropouts, which leaders attribute to late-night social gatherings and the traditional practice of elopement. New Penalties and Directives to protect the future of girls in the area, the community has established the following financial sanctions: GHC 4,000.00 for eloping with a schoolgirl. GHC 4,000.00 for impregnating a school girl. GHC 2,000.00 for any individual found to have facilitated or aided an elopement.

Crucially, the new bye-laws mandate that regardless of elopement or pregnancy, the affected girl must be returned to school immediately to continue her education. Regarding community discipline, the authorities have prohibited “record dances”—often held late into the night—except during major festive occasions.

Mr. Nansia Mumuni Iddrisu, the PTA Financial Secretary, noted that these measures were necessary to address the high rate of school dropouts that threaten the community’s development. The communique was signed by a broad coalition of local stakeholders, including the Landlord (Alhaji Nansia Mumuni), the Assemblyman (Kantongbohu Elisha), and the Chairpersons of the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) and School Management Committees (SMC) of the three local schools.

The community has called upon the Municipal Police Commander and the Department of Social Welfare to support the enforcement of these bye-laws.

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Source: Radford FM