UNFPA calls for accelerated action to end FGM

by Alex Osei-Boateng

ACCRA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- An official of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday called for accelerated actions to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM), as Ghana joins the rest of the globe to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.

Niyi Ojuolape, UNFPA representative in Ghana, said the harmful practice denied women and girls the right to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity, and called on well-meaning Ghanaians to stand together against it.

FGM refers to partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons.

Ghana is among 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the practice is still prevalent, despite efforts to put an end to the practice.

Ojuolape, whose organization works to eliminate FGM, said it had scientifically been proven that FGM was abhorrent and not something that should be happening in this day and age.

He said the prevalence of FGM in Ghana was reducing due to increased advocacy principally from the government, civil society groups and development partners.

He pledged the UNFPA's commitment to scaling up with its awareness campaigns in communities.

"We have shown them the reasons why it is not good to continue; we have shown them the reasons why they should stop it and they should actually get across to the people right all the way to the family level to stop it. So that is the essence of our reach out and I can tell you that it is yielding fruits," Ojuolape told Xinhua in an interview.

"The idea is that it should not happen in our society anymore," he said. Enditem