'Encourage your girl-child to go back to school'

Dr Gifty Dansoa Anti, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GDA Consult, has advised parents whose daughters got pregnant while in school, to encourage them to go back to school after giving birth.

She noted that the situation where many young school girls who became pregnant while in school, and did not continue their education, was not the best.

Dr Gifty Anti gave the advice at an educational forum at Akyem Awisa in the Birim South District at the weekend.

The forum dubbed “Young People’s Initiative,” was organized by a group of young ladies at Akyem Awisa under the Theme-“Wise Up Young Lady,” with sponsorship from Herald Foundation, Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

The group, aims among other things, to encourage young school girls to further their education to higher levels, and to guard against social vices that may ruin their future.

Dr Anti urged parents to inspire their daughters, by devoting time and other resources to ensure quality education for them, including their moral upbringing.

She reminded girls of how precious and sacred their bodies are, and therefore, advised them not to allow them to be misused for monetary gains.

Dr Anti advised girls to always report unacceptable behaviours, such as sexual harassment and violence of all forms, especially gang rape and defilement, to school authorities.

Mrs Paulina Adjei-Maafo, CEO of Queensland International School, encouraged young girls to work hard to achieve their goals.

She advised them not to wait till the start of examinations, but to keep on reading their old notes, and not to throw their old text books away.

Mrs Adjei-Marfo, encouraged girls to have their own private time tables for studies, and not to use their precious time in watching movies.

She advised parents to invest in the education of their daughters, but not to waste their resources on expensive funeral clothes at the expense of their education.

Mr Ahenkora Kwasi Anti, Secretary of Herald Foundation, noted that the girl-child is special, unique and precious but vulnerable.

He, therefore, urged parents, especially mothers, to listen to their daughters and share their concerns.

Mr Anti said the Herald Foundation, which was formed in 2008, aimed among others, to educate people, especially, the youth, on the dangers inherent in the HIV and AIDS, by avoiding pre-marital sex.