Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday registered their displeasure about how some Junior High School (JHS) students were walked out of their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) because they were pregnant.

According to the lawmakers, the BECE examination was not like the Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which allows for students to write their examination, even after years of leaving school.

Contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Benita Okity-Duah to commemorate the Day of the African Child, the MP for Wa West, Yieleh Chereh was hopeful that this year’s celebration would among all things “respect the sexual right of the girl child”.

He lamented that, over the years, the right of the girl child has been trampled upon. “Mr. Speaker, we have seen where young girls are walked out of the examination halls because they are pregnant, where are the guys that impregnated them”, he griefed.

The Day of the African Child, which was designated by the African Union (AU), is being celebrated on the 16th of June every year, by members of the AU states. This year’s celebration was under the theme: “Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting Children: Our Collective Responsibility”.

Hon. Chereh noted that though the Ghana Education Service (GES) had amended its policies and further provided that a pregnant girl should be allowed to write their BECE examinations, the said amendment has not been made public.

He used the opportunity to call upon the GES to undertake awareness programmes to inform the populace about their new policies. He also called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to ensure the right of the girl child is protected, especially in the area of education.

Still clamoring on how the right of the girl child is being trampled upon, he said girls below the age of 16 are being forced into marriage against their will.

Hon. Chereh, therefore, called for the review of the 1998 Children’s Act, saying “the course to review the 1998 Children Act could not be more important than now if we want to protect the Ghana child and the African child. We all have a responsibility as members of this august House to ensure the review of this Act.”

His argument was supported by the MP for Asawase, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed. According to him girls who get pregnant at the JHS level are seen as bad examples in their communities and automatically become school dropout.

He disclosed that girls even during school hours are seen hawking on the major streets, which to him was not the best. “Mr. Speaker, there is indeed the need for the review of the 1998 Children Act”, he said.

On his part, the MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Boamah said he was expecting the Deputy Minister, Mrs. Benita Okity-Duah who read the statement to commemorate the day to disclose policies outlined by her ministry to protect the right of children.