Girls Inspirer Awards competition launched

Insight Foundation Ghana in collaboration with Obaapa Development Foundation has launched the Girls Inspirer Awards to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebration in Ghana.

The competition, slated for March 8, 2016, is to develop young women to be capable to handle affairs confidently for national development.

Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor, Executive Director of Obaapa Development Foundation, said many girls had endured all forms of negative acts of discrimination such as female genital mutilation, sexual abuse, and denial of education which were inimical to their progress.

She said women, though facing much socio-cultural and economic discrimination, were able to do well in their families, institutions, communities as well as using leadership skills to impact positively on society.

She said these were some of the reasons that made 189 governments signatories to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action 20 years ago that set the agenda for realising women rights and gender equality.

The theme; “Celebrating Inspirational Women Achievers, Empowering Young Girls” seeks to recognise and honor three distinguished Ghanaian women achievers in their various fields of endeavour to impact the lives of other women and girls in society.

Nanahemaa Awindor said the competition would attract 10 schools including the Association Community International School, La Yahoushua Junior High School (JHS), Osu Presbyterian Preparatory School, Tiny Flower School, Sea Shell Modern School, Ringway Estate JHS, Kanda Estate JHS, Osu Home School JHS, La Presby JHS, Osu St Barnabas Anglican JHS and Enobal Basic School.

She said participants would attend a writing workshop to enhance their writing skills to be facilitated by Ghana Book Trust and an opportunity to visit the Embassy of the United States of America with support from the Information Resource Centre of the Embassy for monitoring.

She called for the allocation of time in the basic school curriculum to allow students learn about people who had made great achievements to challenge the younger generation.

Mrs Cynthia Prah, Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre, who delivered a speech on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, said since the adoption of Declaration and Platform for Action, a number of girls had attained more access to education than ever before.

She said there must be a global stance against assault on women urging the international community to translate its outrage into meaningful action such as humanitarian aid, psycho-social services and efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

“With women and girls often being the first targets of attack, their rights must be at the centre of our strategy to address this staggering and growing challenge,” she said.

Mrs Christiana Gockel, Former Director of Finance Administration, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said in aspiring for gender equality, “we must move to the basics to empower girls and women together with the support of men”.

She said by so doing the problem of closing the gap between men and women would be solved for the development of the nation.