Escaping child marriage: a girl's story from Ghana (ActionAid UK)
A girl in Ghana was abducted for child marriage at 14 on her way home from school. In this ActionAid UK video, she tells her story in her own words.
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Her story
"I was abducted when I was 14. I was walking home from night school when I saw two men with a motorbike.
"My friends and I just tried to carry on walking. Then one of the men stood in front of me and began grabbing my books. I said, 'No – leave my books for me!' I thought that I was dead. I shouted for help. The men picked me up, threw my books away and put me on their motorbike.
"When they got me to their village, some small children started following me and calling 'Hafali! Hafali!' It means 'new wife'. I was locked inside a room.
"I was crying. I was telling them that I am a school child. One of the men said that if I made a noise they would cane me. I was all alone. I was scared I would never see my village again. I would be trapped and do nothing but give birth. I knew that some girls give birth and die because they are too young.
"When I woke up, I heard my father's voice, so I cried louder at the door. My father heard my call. Madam Abibia was there with my father, and the men knew that if they didn't open the door, they would have to face the consequences.
"If I hadn't been rescued, I feel that by now I would be carrying a baby or just leading a miserable life. I am not afraid of being abducted again."
ActionAid's work
ActionAid works around the world to end child marriage. The charity works with local women to teach communities about the harm of child marriage and to bring those responsible to justice.