FGM survivor Kurima reclaims her voice: 'I never knew pleasure until my repair'
Kurima, a young woman from Dorimon in Ghana's Upper West Region, is turning personal pain into public advocacy. As a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), she is speaking out to break a cycle that has silently shaped generations of women in her family and across northern Ghana.
In a candid conversation with media personality Serwaa Amihere, Kurima revealed that her clitoris was cut off when she was just one week old. But it wasn't until her teenage years, while a student at Islamic Senior High School, that she realised something was different.
How did Kurima discover she was an FGM survivor?
Kurima said the discovery came during an ordinary moment in the school washroom. She noticed that the bodies of girls from southern Ghana differed from those of girls from the north. Curious and confused, she confided in a male teacher.
“I made him to know that whenever we go into the washroom, I realised that southern ladies' clitories is longer than the northern ladies. Then he told her that they have taken part of my clitoris away,” she recounted.
That conversation changed everything. The teacher sat her down and explained the long-term effects of what had been done to her. Kurima went home angry and confronted her mother, who confirmed the truth: part of her clitoris had been removed when she was a week-old baby.
“I got to know I was a survivor when I was 15-16 years,” she said.
What type of FGM is practised in Ghana?
Kurima explained that while there are four recognised types of FGM globally, Ghana predominantly practises Type 1, which involves the removal of the clitoral tip.
“If you come to Ghana here, they practice Type 1. They take just the tip of the clitoris, the pointed part that gives pleasure. It will be hanging there, but it will not be sensitive,” she explained.
For Kurima, the practice is deeply personal and intergenerational. Her mother told her that FGM had been performed on her great-grandmother, her grandmother, her senior sister, and herself, and that the tradition would continue.
“She said, 'Madam, they have done it to your great-grandmother, they did it to your grandmother, even your senior sister, you, and we are still going to do it.' And I said, 'Mummy, do you know the side effects of what you are telling me?'”
Kurima's mother even took her to meet the woman who had performed the procedure on her as an infant.
Repairing what was taken: a journey to Benin and hope at Korle Bu
Kurima's advocacy eventually led authorities to connect her with specialists in Benin, where she underwent surgery to repair her damaged clitoris. Today, she says she can experience sexual pleasure for the first time in her life.
She also shared a crucial piece of information for other survivors: similar repair procedures are available in Ghana at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Kurima's story is not just about pain; it is about resilience, recovery, and the determination to ensure that no other girl grows up wondering why her body was altered without her consent.
FGM in Ghana: what you should know
Female Genital Mutilation remains a significant public health and human rights issue in parts of Ghana, particularly in the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern Regions. While the practice is illegal under Ghanaian law, cultural pressures and tradition continue to drive it in some communities.
Survivors like Kurima are leading the charge for change, combining personal testimony with practical information about medical repair options. Her message is clear: the cycle can end, and healing is possible.
If you or someone you know has been affected by FGM, medical and psychological support is available. The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital offers repair services, and organisations across Ghana work to support survivors and end the practice.