Bawku West: ActionAid Ghana (AAG), a Non-Governmental Organization, recently organized the fifth edition of its annual Young Female Platform (YFP) conference at the Kusanaba Senior High School in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. The YFP model, initiated in 2009, aims to address the low participation rates of women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles. It was introduced in the Upper East Region in 2019 and currently operates in nine schools, including two communities with Persons With Disabilities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the conference convened stakeholders, platform members from Senior High Schools, and PWDs under the theme: ‘Bold voices, equal spaces: Empowering girls for transformative leadership.’ Mr. Yakubu Akuka, the Regional Programmes Manager of AAG, highlighted the platform’s use of mentoring and modeling approaches to enable young girls in SHSs to engage in discussions on development and governance issues. The young participants focused on matters affecting their growth, education, and development, particularly for PWDs.
Mr. Akuka emphasized that the YFP enables young women to analyze social issues affecting women, engage in advocacy, make informed decisions, and voice their solutions. The platform serves as a launch pad for young girls to build confidence and skills, preparing them for active participation in decision-making at various societal levels. Despite Ghana’s youthful demographic, with 58.9 percent under the age of 25, girls and young women are underrepresented in decision-making forums. Progress in gender parity in basic education has been noted, but inequalities persist.
In the Upper East Region, 31 percent of girls are married before 18, hindering their education and potential for leadership. Nationally, adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 are twice as likely to be out of school compared to their male peers. Mr. Akuka pointed out that these barriers are rooted in patriarchal norms and societal inequalities, denying many girls the opportunity to complete their education or forcing them into early marriages. He stressed the transformative power of education in breaking these barriers, equipping girls with the knowledge and opportunities for a better future.
Recognizing this, ActionAid prioritizes access to quality, gender-responsive education. Through initiatives like establishing girls’ clubs and campaigning against school-related gender-based violence, ActionAid strives to make education a reality and right for every girl. Madam Alice Ellen Abeere-Inga, the Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service and Special Guest of Honour, urged policymakers to incorporate girls-focused policies into their frameworks. She encouraged the young girls to embrace their leadership potential, advising them not to let anyone diminish their voices or visions.