Officials of the Church of Pentecost and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have called for more investment in girls’ reproductive health, education and safety to enable them to make informed decisions and also realise their full potential.
They said empowering girls required more than financial support, stressing the need for safe learning environments, access to healthcare, emotional support and protection from abuse and discrimination.
The call was made at an International Day of the Girl Child celebration organised by the Women’s Ministry and Schools Outreach Ministries of The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with the Korle-Klottey Municipal Education Directorate at Accra Girls’ SHS.
About 1,500 pupils, comprising 1,050 girls and 450 boys are expected to benefit from the distribution of sanitary pads, panties and boxer shorts worth over GH¢40,000, to enhance their personal hygiene.
The event which brought together pupils from junior and senior high schools within the La and Korle-Klottey municipal education directorates educated them on reproductive health, personal safety, leadership and future career opportunities.
The Women’s Director of The Church of Pentecost, Philomina Mireku, said investment in girls’ must address their physical, emotional and social well-being.
“Empowering the girl-child goes beyond sending her to school.
We must also protect her health, safeguard her dignity and provide an environment where she can grow without fear or discrimination,” she said.
Mrs Mireku called for access to nutritious food, clean water, proper sanitation and healthcare, adding that menstruation should not be a source of shame or prevent girls from attending school.
She urged boys to desist from teasing girls about menstruation and other bodily changes, saying respect and understanding were necessary to create supportive school environments.
Protection
The Municipal Director of Education for the Korle-Klottey Education Directorate, Ebenezer Perry Ofori, identified teenage pregnancy, bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination and financial constraints as some of the barriers to girls’ education.
“Every girl deserves a safe environment in which to learn, grow and pursue her dreams. Parents, teachers and community leaders must work together to protect girls and ensure that no child is denied education because of fear, abuse or discrimination,” he said.
He encouraged girls to remain disciplined, take their studies seriously and believe in their potential to become future leaders.
The Public Relations Officer and Information and Communication Technology Coordinator of the GES, Peter Albedu Golden, also advocated a stronger collaboration among schools, families, religious bodies and traditional authorities to combat child marriage and sexual exploitation.
The National Coordinator of Schools Outreach Ministries of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Frank Mensah Tandoh, emphasised the importance of combining academic excellence with leadership development and spiritual values.
He outlined the church’s EYES framework, which promotes impactful media, systematic discipleship, strategic partnerships, aggressive evangelism and relevant resources to support the holistic development of young people.
The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Computing at Pentecost University, Rev. Prof. Joseph Ignatius Teye Buertey, commended initiatives aimed at promoting girls’ academic excellence and leadership.
For her part, the guest speaker, Abigail Tobbin, urged girls to pursue their ambitions without being restricted by gender stereotypes or their backgrounds.
