By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (V/R), Oct. 5, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, has used a community football match to engage men and boys in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), promote adolescent health and gender equality.
The initiative was also to promote positive masculinity through matches that encourage teamwork, leadership, mutual respect and peer learning, amount communities in the areas.
Ms Lina Elinam Bensah, the NCCE Director, Keta, during the football gala at the Sandset Sports Arena at the Dzelukope Beach, said the activity formed part of an ongoing programme that began in the last quarter of last year, during which the Commission engaged stakeholders, visited identifiable groups and carried out mobile van broadcasts.
“The programme is supported by Global Affairs Canada and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It falls under the Adolescent Girls Programme, which the NCCE is implementing in 22 districts across the Ashanti, Eastern, Volta and Northeast Regions,” she said.
Ms Bensah said the objective remained the strengthening of community awareness and empowering adolescent girls, boys, and community members to promote adolescent health, gender equality and the prevention of GBV through sustained civic engagement.
She explained that specific aims included improving knowledge of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, promoting attitudes and behaviours that prevented GBV and harmful social norms, and using fun games to raise community awareness.
She said the programme also sought to strengthen the role of men and boys as advocates for gender equality and the protection of adolescent girls.
She further stated that football match was part of Activity three of the third-quarter plan, which provided for community game to enable teams to compete in a friendly match designed not only to entertain but to promote gender equality, respect and non-violence.
“The contest started with four teams, including Real Stars of Abutiakope and Kingdom FC of Dzelukope. Sky Light FC and The Lord Gym were the two sides that were left to play the finals, in which Sky Light lifted the trophy by defeating Lord Gym 2-1 in the finals,” she said.
Ms Bensah emphasised that civic education messages were woven into the day’s events, including discussions on positive masculinity, the prevention of GBV, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, respect for the rights and dignity of girls, and the role of men and boys in creating safe communities.
Madam Margaret Dovlo, the Public Health Promotion Officer at Keta Health Directorate, who also participated in the event, said that every adolescent girl deserves to live free from violence, abuse and discrimination, and has the right to accurate information and youth-friendly health services, and stressed that harmful social norms and gender stereotypes hold back the development of girls and communities.
She also told the Ghana News Agency that communities, parents and caregivers share responsibility for supporting and protecting adolescents, and that speaking up against abuse protects individuals and strengthens communities.
She disclosed that Keta for the past nine months has recorded about 72 new HIV and AIDS which called for urgent attention, education and promotion of public awareness to prevent further sprayed to protect the communities in the municipality.
She urged participants to learn as they enjoy the games and not go home empty-handed while the programme for the day also included an award ceremony for both finalists.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo