Youth Alliance for Community (YACC-Ghana), a youth-led community-based organization in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA) organized a girls’ empowerment and mentorship session for young girls in the Gudaayiri Electoral Area of the Wa East District of Ghana last Friday, January 15, 2021.
The program which brought together young girls from across the Electoral Area, Yaru, Zinye, Balazu, Viisee, Konpiani and Gudaayiri was dubbed “Enhancing the Potential of the Girl-child in a Competitive Global Space”.
Muniru Abdulai, Administrative Director, YACC-Ghana said the program was to among other things train and sensitize young girls to the need to lead responsible lifestyles so that their rights and education is not jeopardized.
While urging the participants to take maximum advantage of the program, he said it was a rare opportunity for the young girls to meet female mentors who will help them better shape their lives.
Commending YACC-Ghana for organizing such a life-affirming program, Moomin Iddrisu, Wa East District Director, NYA noted that the Authority owes the Ghanaian youth a responsibility of ensuring their welfare and wellbeing saying that, it is the more reason why the Authority is obliged to support program organized by YACC-Ghana.
He, however, lamented over what he described as “constant denial” of girls equal access to opportunities as their male counterparts, in the aspects of education, work and occupation in some parts of the Wa East District.
The Wa East District Director of the National Youth Authority, Moomin Iddrisu also shared useful insights about the Authority with the participants.
Various speakers took turns to share wonderful experiences with the young girls; Hiqimat Sungdeme Saani, Executive Director of Hiquie Sung Joy Network, Nuriya Mahama, Secretary at Hiquie Sung Joy Network and Mashruhatu Alhassan, Communications Director at Youth Alliance for Community Change (YACC-Ghana).
In his conclusion remarks, the Acting Chief Director of YACC-Ghana, Aminu Ibrahim pledged the continuous resolve of the organization to champion causes of youth and girls empowerment so as to enhance their living standards.
He hinted that YACC-Ghana will partner with appropriate agencies like the NYA to organize artisanship and skills training programs for girls and especially teenage mothers within the catchment area.
The young girls, numbering about 200 confessed leaving the session with useful, life-affirming experiences.