Els: MBN360 Education
The hopes and dreams of three teenage girls in Yapei in the Savannah Region were shattered after they were allegedly forced into marriage even before the commencement of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
While thousands of candidates across the country sat in examination halls with determination and anxiety, the three girls, aged between 13 and 16, were absent from all the papers.
Their painful stories add to many girls especially in the northern part of the country who have gone through similar experience. Many have argued that early marriage continues to rob many young girls of their education and future aspirations.
According to residents, the girls had prepared tirelessly for the examinations and looked forward to furthering their education after Junior High School.
However, those dreams were abruptly interrupted after their families allegedly consented to marriage arrangements before the exams began on Monday, May 4.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Central Gonja, Mahama Fuseini, who confirmed the development, expressed deep regret and disappointment over the situation.
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He described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, stressing that the welfare and future of the teenagers had been ignored.
According to him, the district assembly will collaborate with the Department of Social Welfare and other stakeholders to ensure the girls are rescued and returned to school. He emphasized that education remains one of the most powerful tools for empowering girls and breaking the cycle of poverty in many communities.
The incident has reignited conversations about child marriage and its devastating impact on young girls in some rural communities.
Many education advocates believe the situation should serve as a wake-up call to parents, traditional leaders, and society as a whole to prioritise the education of the girl child instead of forcing them into early marriages.
As the three girls remain away from the classroom, many people continue to wonder what could have become of their future if they had been allowed to write their examinations alongside their colleagues.
Story by Baba Kamil Mohammed
