There is palpable outrage in Ghana after school-girls were reportedly banned from crossing a river on Tuesdays while they are menstruating.
The ban, apparently given by a local river god, has outraged children’s activists, especially as girls must cross the river to reach school. It means girls in the Upper Denkyira East district, in the Central Region, could miss out on their education.
Sub-Saharan Africa is already struggling to keep girls in school during their periods. The UN’s scientific and education organisation, Unesco, estimates one in 10 girls in the region does not attend school because they are menstruating.
Unicef’s menstrual hygiene ambassador Shamima Muslim Alhassan told BBC Pidgin that the directive, which applies to part of the River Ofin, violated girls’ right to education. It seems the gods are really powerful aren’t they?” she said.
Central Regional Minister Kwamena Duncan has given indications he will coordinate with the Ashanti regional minister to find a solution. Many cultures have myths and taboos around menstruation. In Madagascar, some females are told not to wash during their periods and in Nepal some women are forced to sleep in huts away from the rest of the family.
(gistmania)
In this 21st century?? How do the gods even know when a girl is menstruating?? The Chief priests stands by the stream to check??
This is pretty annoying…. What’s that suppose to mean… Local god indeed. So they should hang themselves within those few days abi.. Everything women… Can you imagine the ban… Many just base on the Old Testament Law to abuse females. Una welldone ooo
this is strange
Wow some traditional beliefs still exists
being a female is a female is now a crime
Strange..