By Solomon Gumah
Bimbilla (N/R), Oct 13, GNA – ActionAid Ghana, an NGO, has engaged students at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.
The International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11, seeks to raise more awareness about challenges confronting girls and the need to promote their well-being.
This year’s commemoration was on the theme: “Girls Vision for the Future”, which sought to highlight the importance of addressing issues such as gender inequality, child marriage and limited access to education and quality health care.
ActionAid Ghana, which focuses on supporting vulnerable groups, women, and girls, commemorated the Day with students to reaffirm its commitment to advocating girls’ empowerment and provide opportunities for them to become responsible citizens.
The event also provided the platform for the Girls Clubs Movement, an initiative instituted by ActionAid Ghana in the Municipality, to deliberate among themselves on whether it was appropriate for girls to lead and vice versa.
Mrs Beatrice Biije, a Programmes Officer at ActionAid Ghana, speaking during the event, said it was to empower the girls on the need to stay in school and complete their education, which would pave way for them to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.
She said the event was also aimed at providing the platform for the girls to show their leadership qualities and potential and other issues that hindered their holistic growth and development.
Mrs Biije appealed to parents and guardians not to shirk their responsibility, especially on girls’ education by ensuring that their basic needs were provided to protect them from being exploited.
Madam Bushira Alhassan, Northern Regional Director, Department of Gender, touched on women in leadership and said it was a good approach to break the cycle of poverty in communities and ensure that issues affecting their well-being were properly tackled and addressed.
She told the girls that “Let your vision drive you towards excellence because anything you put your heart to do, with hard work and determination, you will succeed at it.”
Madam Adisah Abubakari, Girls Education Officer, Nanumba North Municipal Education Directorate, said empowering girls to live their full potential should be the concerns of everyone because of the vulnerability of women and girls.
She advised girls not to allow people to take undue advantage of them and urged them to speak up when their fundamental rights were being violated.
Miss Shahidatu Abukari, a member of the Nanumba North Girls Club Movement, commended ActionAid Ghana for providing the platform to inspire them in areas of leadership and responsibility.
GNA