By Albert Oppong-Ansah / Christabel Kporvie, GNA
Accra, May 17, GNA – Stakeholders in education, religion and child development have raised concerns over what they describe as the growing neglect of Ghana’s boy child.
They warned that poor mentorship, declining school retention, harmful social media influence and emotional neglect are leaving many boys vulnerable and without direction.
The concerns were raised at a programme organised in Accra by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry, in collaboration with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES), ahead of the International Day for the Boy Child, observed annually on May 16.
Held on the theme, “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities,” the event brought together educators, church leaders and policymakers who called for intentional support for boys while sustaining gains made in girl-child empowerment.
Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, said the boy child must not be ignored in conversations on leadership, education, family stability and national transformation.
He said challenges confronting many boys included violence, substance abuse, educational decline, emotional neglect and the absence of positive role models.
“The boy child is a future leader and should not be denied opportunities. When boys are trained well, society becomes safer and stronger, and they contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Apostle Prof Agyapong-Kodua said many boys were increasingly turning to social media for direction due to the absence of fathers and mentors in their lives.
“If we are not intentional, social media will mentor our children for us. We are not saying they should not use social media, but they should be guided to access the right information to excel in life,” he stated.
He urged boys to avoid drugs and negative peer pressure and encouraged teachers and parents to model discipline, integrity and good values.
“A boy trained with values becomes a man with impact,” he added.
Touching on technology, Prof Agyapong-Kodua urged society to encourage boys to become creators of technology rather than merely consumers.
“It is often the users of technology who are negatively affected, not the developers,” he said, expressing the hope that educational advancement would equip more young people with skills in science, mathematics and innovation.
Elder Barima Acheampong Sarpong II, Deputy Director of the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and Chief of Asante Asaman in the Ashanti Region, said society needed to critically examine the plight of boys.
He acknowledged that sustained advocacy for girls had produced positive results but said emerging statistics now pointed to worrying declines among boys.
“As we celebrate the International Day for the Boy Child, I urge every man to identify one boy child, find out how he is doing and dedicate some time to mentoring him,” he said.
“We believe in you and your future. You are not an accident and God has something special for you,” he told the boys present.
Madam Gifty Asiedu, Director of the Girls’ Education Unit at the GES Headquarters, said the Service remained committed to ensuring that no child was left behind.
She stressed that supporting the boy child should not come at the expense of progress made in girl-child education.
“If you focus intentionally on one gender and neglect the other, you create a societal problem,” she stated.
Madam Asiedu revealed that the GES had observed some decline in boys’ retention in school, although the gap between boys and girls was not yet too wide.
“Over the years, attention has been focused on the girl child and we have seen the benefits. However, data now show that the statistics concerning the boy child continue to decline,” she said.
She explained that the Service was implementing gender-responsive education to ensure classroom teaching addressed the needs of both boys and girls equally.
“Whatever is done in the classroom should address the needs of both genders so that all learners can achieve their full potential,” she added.
Pastor Frank Mensah Tandoh, National Coordinator of the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry, said statistics from the BECE and WASSCE showed that more girls were now sitting the examinations than boys.
He clarified that organisers were not advocating reduced support for girls but rather equal attention for boys.
“We cannot remain silent about the boy child because boys also have emotions and face challenges,” he said.
Pastor Tandoh said the programme was the second edition following a partnership initiated last year between the Schools Outreach Ministry, the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the GES.
The initiative seeks to improve school enrolment, completion rates and learning outcomes among boys so they could grow into responsible men who would build strong families and communities.
Stakeholders at the event called on parents, teachers, religious leaders and policymakers to work together in providing mentorship, guidance and equal opportunities for both boys and girls.
They said the strength of every nation depended largely on the character, wellbeing and development of its young people.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe