The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Miniru Limuna is calling on chiefs to intervene to put a stop to force or child marriages phenomenon in the region.

The minister said such cultural practices are inimical to the total development of country. He said the state place a lot of pride on the girl-child education to enhance gender equality and by extension ensures that the girl-child is not forced into marriage at the detriment of her education.

Addressing members of the Northern Regions House of chiefs at their general meeting in Tamale, the minister told the chiefs to take cognizance of the 1992 constitution which is a guiding principle to pass bye-laws that will not affect the development of communities.

Child or forced marriage in the northern region has since been on the increase despite several attempts by civil society organization to reduce these cases.

Research indicates that in Ghana one out of four young girls marry before attaining the legal age eighteen, among this 13.6 percent are exposed to the use of contraceptive to space their child-bearing time.

Young girls under school going age are forced into marriage either by the parents or guardians losing them the opportunity for a good environment, formal education, social and normal guardians hence rendering them vulnerable to adult exploitation and other socio-cultural hazards.

This, the Northern Regional Minister calls for a total stop to it since it hampers the progress of such children and puts a burden on government.