Talata The Child Bride

By Opong Amponsah

Talata, the Child Bride           

A promising schoolgirl is forced to abandon her education to be married off to an elderly man when she is only twelve years. She becomes pregnant and develops complications during childbirth because she is not fully developed to carry a pregnancy and deliver a baby. This intriguing story  exposes the reader to the realities of this unacceptable practice. The devastating consequences of child marriage (a major one being obstetric fistula) are brought to light in this story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Opong Amponsah
• Release date: Feb 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201082970

Book preview

First Published 2017 by Adwinsa Publications (Gh) Ltd.

P. 0 . Box LG 92 Legon-Accra, Ghana Tel.: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

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© Adwinsa Publications (Gh) Ltd.

All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, elec tronic , mechan ical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without

the written permission of the publishers.

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ISBN 978 - 9988 - 8389 - 6 - 4

Page Layout: Judith Kafui Adzah Cover Design: John Abato Illustrations: Felix Gyapong

More Praise for TALATA

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Very informative book with useful lessons for both children and adults on the adverse effects of early child marriage. It is an excellent material for awareness raising on this subject matt er. -  PROSPER KWASI NYAVOR,

Education Specialist, UNESCO Accra.

"Child marriage is a crime. It violates the fundamental rights of the girl child. Its effects are enormous and affects the physical and psychological well being of the child. Our children need to be educated on what to do when they are forced into marriage. We lend our support to this powerful book by Adwinsa as a weapon for every girl child. Let us end child marriage and empower the  next generation  -  CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT

REV. LAURENCIA WILHELMINA AKORLI,

Coordinating Director DOVVSU

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Great plot, well exposed, very believable conflict, quite dramatic complications and suspenseful climax, but gladly, a nerve-calming and heart-warming resolution. Virtue rewarded and vice punished. The hope given by Talata" is best of all. It took a prolonged fear, a short-lived escape, an undesirable marriage, a very very painful experience, a-nine­ month expectancy and above all an enduring labour by a little girl, BUT that very important call by Dr. Fatimatu was eventually made; so will that day come, when child marriage will eventually end. Thank you Talata.

-  ANGELA ANINAKWAH,

Literature-in-English  Teacher/Freelance Editor

"Talata's story reflects the challenges faced by many voiceless girls forced into early marriage. A must read for all ages to help sensitize and curb a societal menace affecting socio-economic development.

- CANDACE BENTIL Education Programme Officer, Camfed Ghana

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all agencies who

are passionately fighting to end early child marriage.

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Without all the wonderful institutions and people who helped us to make this book a reality, it would have remained adream.

Special thanks to Naomi Adjei, Matilda Agyapong and Eugenia Agyapong, students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Publishing Studies Dept. for putting together the original story.

We would like to particularly thank Mr. Prosper Nyavor (UNESCO), Chief Superintendent Rev. Laurencia Wilhelmina Akorli, Coordinating Director, DOVVSU and her team, Mrs . Catherine Nutsugah Mikado (Director, Girls' Education Unit- GES), Mr. George Yaw Boateng (Programme Coordinator - SOS Children's Villages, Ghana), Madam Victoria Natsu (Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection).

Lawyer Edmund Foley, Madam Ohui Agbenyaga Allotey, Miss Leticia 0. Soli, Emmanuel Essandoh Jnr., Madam Angela Aninakwah and Candace Bentil, were of great blessing in reviewing the book.

Finally, to Miss Joyce Akyere Aidoo, Judith K. Adzah, John Abato, Dennis Attuah Antwi and Felix Agyapong, this would never have turned this well without you. We are eternally grateful.

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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"

(Nelson Mandela)

Child marriage is a human rights violation and a practice that undermines efforts to promote sustainable development.

Children, especially girls represent a future of our great nation and the world at large. What affects them today affects our world tomorrow.

Parents who are expected to offer primary protection