Ghana Girl Guides Association inducts new executive
Ghana Girl Guides Association (GGGA) belongs to the largest voluntary movement dedicated to the welfare of girls and young women in the world. Founded and launched in Accra in 1921, the GGGA is the national Guiding Organisation of Ghana that has spread to towns and villages all over the country.
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Driven by the commitment to change and transform the lives of girls and young women across the country, by supporting and empowering them to achieve their fullest potential and to become responsible citizens of the world, the organisation has spread its operations to towns and villages all over the country, currently having 26,909 members.
The GGGA is a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides (WAGGGS), which is the largest voluntary movement for girls and young women, and Girl Scouts.
An induction and warranty ceremony was held for new executive members of the GGGA in Accra at the weekend, during which Madam Zakiya Abdul-Wahab was sworn in as the newly elected Chief Commissioner (CC) of the GGGA.
Madam Abdul-Wahab, who is in her 30s and said to be the youngest CC of the organisation since its establishment in 1921, was sworn-in alongside Madam Stella Adjei-Djan as the first Deputy Chief Commissioner, Madam Lydia Oteng as the second Deputy Chief Commissioner, Madam Cynthia Labram as the International Commissioner and Madam Ann Attigah as the Treasurer, to run the association.
Developing potential
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Madam Abdul-Wahab called on government agencies, stakeholders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support the association in advocating the welfare of girls and young women in the country to help them develop their full potential and become agents of change.
According to her, with adequate support, the girl child could grow to support sustainable national development.
Madam Abdul-Wahab promised to work together with her executive members to increase membership, speak on issues affecting the girl child and young women, as well as strengthen the quality of the girl guiding experience.
She said she would ensure that the association would remain committed to reaching out to rural girls and communities and positively impacting on their lives, and therefore, urged the ministries of Education, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Youth and Sports to create platforms for discussing possible collaborations and support in assisting the girl child to become a responsible citizen.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, in a keynote address, encouraged the new executive members to render their services to impact positively on young girls for a better future.
National development
According to Madam Djaba, to be able to contribute positively to national development and self-improvement, girls and young women should identify their potential and work towards achieving their set goals.
She said women played vital roles in the sustainable development of a nation and there was the need to contribute positively to promote their lives, pointing out that when women identified their roles, they would be able to succeed despite the challenges.
She, therefore, promised her ministry’s commitment to support the cause of the girl child in the country.
For her part, the immediate past CC of GGGA, Mrs Juliana Ofori-Kissi, urged the incoming executive members to be dedicated and help move the association forward.
“You have a great task ahead. As we hand over the mantle to you, I believe you will keep the faith as you focus your efforts on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and our vision 2020, aimed at growing our world membership from 10 to 12 million,” she stated.
Mrs Ofori-Kissi urged the executive to be determined and remain resolute, despite the challenges that may confront them in their efforts to promote the goals and vision of the association.