MP Emelia Ankomah Marks International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
The Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira East Constituency, Hon. Emelia Ankomah, has marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with a call to action for Ghanaian leaders to do more to eradicate the harmful practice.
In a statement delivered in Parliament on February 6, 2026, Ankomah emphasized that FGM has no health benefits, no scientific basis, and no moral justification, and is a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of women and girls.
“FGM is a devastating practice that denies dignity, bodily autonomy, and choice to the girl child,” Ankomah said. “The consequences are severe and lifelong, including severe bleeding, infections, childbirth complications, psychological trauma, and in some cases, death.”
Ankomah noted that while Ghana has taken a strong legal position by criminalizing FGM, laws alone are not enough to change behavior. She called on leaders to confront harmful practices shielded by silence and social pressure, and to ensure that institutions mandated to enforce the law are sufficiently resourced.
The MP also emphasized the importance of involving traditional and religious leaders in reshaping attitudes and safeguarding the next generation, and called for survivors of FGM to be placed at the center of the national response.
“Survivors require access to healthcare, psychosocial support, legal protection, and economic empowerment,” Ankomah said. “Their lived experiences should inform our policies, not remain hidden in shame and fear.”
Ankomah urged Parliament to reaffirm its zero-tolerance stance on FGM and contribute actively to the national effort to eradicate it completely. “Let us recommit ourselves to building a Ghana where no girl is subjected to harmful practices, where her rights are protected, and where her future is determined by choice—not by violence disguised as tradition,” she said.
