The Eastern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has marked the International Day of the Girl with a call for increased investment in girls’ rights and efforts to end child marriage.
The celebration was held at Oyoko Methodist Senior High School on the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
It brought together students and stakeholders to promote girls’ education, protection and empowerment, while encouraging boys to play an active role in addressing teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.
Madam Patricia Birago Gyamfi, Eastern Regional Girls’ Education Officer, said the participation of boys was essential to efforts to protect and empower girls.
She stressed that no girl under 18 years should be forced into marriage, adding that every child deserved the opportunity to learn, develop and make informed decisions about her future.
She called on parents to keep their daughters in school and urged teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders to create safe learning environments and support programmes that promoted girls’ education, health, safety and leadership.
Mr Kwasi Owusu Obeng, Eastern Regional Population Officer of the National Population Council (NPC), said teenage pregnancy and early sexual activity posed serious threats to girls’ education and prospects.
He said the Eastern Region had a teenage pregnancy rate of about 14 per cent, describing it as a concern that required stronger interventions.
Mr Obeng said reproductive health education often focused on girls, despite the role boys played in teenage pregnancies, and called for greater attention to educating boys on abstinence and responsible sexual behaviour.
He said involving boys in reproductive health programmes would help reduce teenage pregnancies and promote shared responsibility among young people.
Dr Moses Barima Djimatey, Eastern Regional Deputy Director of Public Health, said addressing teenage pregnancy required the active involvement of both boys and girls.
He disclosed that more than 4,000 girls aged between 10 and 19 became pregnant between January and June, describing the situation as a concern with health, social and economic implications.
Dr Djimatey called for stronger collaboration among district assemblies, religious and traditional leaders, schools, the police and health workers to guide young people and protect their future.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lydia Wemegah, Eastern Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), highlighted the need to intensify efforts to end child marriage and protect girls from abuse.
She called for stronger enforcement of laws against child marriage, community sensitisation and support for victims, noting that poverty, cultural practices and limited education contributed to the persistence of the practice.
As part of the celebration, students were divided into nine groups and assigned mentors to share their life experiences and discuss decisions that could shape their future.
Madam Diana Mintah, Headmistress of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASS), called for regular mentorship programmes for students, saying they would equip them with the knowledge and values needed to become responsible leaders and positive role models for future generations.