Ghana has been found guilty of violating the rights of schoolgirls who are forbidden from crossing the River Offin on Tuesdays and during menstruation, a cultural practice that forces some girls to miss up to 12 school days every month.

In a landmark decision, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) ruled that Ghana had failed to protect the girls from discrimination and harmful cultural practices, despite being aware of their plight.

The decision, adopted on October 20, 2026, during the Committee’s 48th Ordinary Session in Maseru, Lesotho, follows a human rights case brought against Ghana by JoyNews Channel Manager, Solomon Joojo Cobbinah and the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA.

The case concerned girls living in communities along the River Offin in the Ashanti Region who must cross the river to attend school at Kyekyewere in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region.

Under a longstanding customary practice, women and girls are prohibited from crossing the river on Tuesdays and while menstruating. The restriction is rooted in traditional beliefs that violating the taboo could result in danger or death.

For the affected schoolgirls, the consequences have been severe.

Some lose between seven and twelve school days every month, disrupting their education, affecting their academic performance and placing them at a disadvantage compared with boys, who are not subjected to the same restrictions.

Ghana failed to protect the girls

In its ruling, the Committee found that Ghana had violated the girls’ rights to education and non-discrimination under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

It also held that the state had failed in its obligation to eliminate harmful social and cultural practices.

Crucially, the Committee established that governments cannot escape responsibility simply because discriminatory practices originate from traditional authorities rather than state institutions.

It found that Ghana had failed to take adequate measures to address the discriminatory effects of the practice, despite knowing that girls were being denied access to education. The decision reinforces the obligation of African governments to intervene when customary practices undermine children’s fundamental rights.

Committee demands bridge and protection for girls

Beyond declaring Ghana in violation of the Charter, the Committee outlined measures the government must take to address the discrimination.

These include accelerating the construction of a permanent bridge across the River Offin and providing immediate safe crossing arrangements to ensure that children can access school without restrictions.

The Committee also recommended academic support for girls whose education has suffered, appropriate examination arrangements and targeted sensitisation programmes for teachers, education officials, families and affected children.

It further called for a review of policies that exclude smaller and remote communities from educational infrastructure, as well as sustained engagement with traditional authorities to address the harmful practice.

Ghana is required to report to the Committee on the implementation of these recommendations within 180 days of receiving the decision.

‘Culture must never deny people their dignity’

Reacting to the ruling, Solomon Joojo Cobbinah, who jointly brought the case, described the decision as a victory for girls whose rights had been ignored for years.

“No girl or woman should be prevented from crossing a river because it is Tuesday or because she is menstruating. This decision affirms a simple truth: culture must never be used to deny people their dignity, education, health care or freedom of movement.

“This is a victory for the girls whose voices have too often been ignored. But a decision on paper is only the beginning. It must lead to change in their daily lives,” he said.

Dr Abdulmalik Bello, a Legal Officer at IHRDA, welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important affirmation of the responsibility of African governments to confront discrimination rooted in customary practices.

“We warmly welcome this important decision, which affirms that States must take concrete action to address discriminatory customary practices and protect girls’ rights.
“It is a significant affirmation of the rights to education and equality, and the obligation to eliminate harmful practices across Africa,” he stated.

A ruling with implications beyond River Offin

Although the case arose from communities along the River Offin, its implications extend to other parts of Africa where harmful traditional practices continue to restrict children’s access to education and other fundamental rights.

The decision establishes that the existence of laws and policies protecting children is not enough. Governments must demonstrate that those protections are effective in practice, particularly for children living in remote and underserved communities.

For the affected girls, however, the immediate question is whether the ruling will translate into meaningful change.

Until the restrictions are removed and safe access to education is guaranteed, girls living along the River Offin risk continuing to lose valuable school days because of their gender and a natural biological process.

The ruling has settled the question of their rights. The responsibility now falls on Ghana to ensure those rights are respected.

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