NGO empowers girls through netball competition, HIV awareness program in Ada

The Naana Kakie Foundation, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness and youth empowerment, has organised a Girls’ Netball Empowerment Competition and HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme for young girls in Ada.

The initiative, which targeted girls under the age of 17, brought together young female netball players from several communities within the Ada East and Ada West Districts. It marked the first programme of its kind in the area, combining sports development with health education and advocacy.

Speaking in an interview, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Esther Kakie Ayimavor-Puplampu, popularly known as Naana Kakie, said the programme was designed to identify and nurture young sporting talents while educating participants on HIV/AIDS prevention and healthy living.

According to her, the competition also served as a platform to empower the girls to become peer educators and role models in their schools and communities. As part of this effort, selected participants were appointed as HIV/AIDS Awareness Ambassadors to help promote accurate information and reduce stigma associated with the disease.

Naana Kakie noted that preparations for the event began about three weeks prior, during which time individuals and organisations expressed interest and offered various forms of support to ensure its success.

She expressed gratitude to Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I, President of the Ada Queen Mothers Consortium, for donating 10 boxes of sanitary pads, and to Madam Dela Dzivenu for providing packs of drinks for participants. Additional support, she said, came from Mr Nii Teye, a Ghanaian based in the United States, Sly DounCee Ventures, and other contributors who offered financial and logistical assistance.

Eight teams competed in the netball tournament. Matrix from Big Ada emerged as overall champions after narrowly defeating Generations from Dorgobom by a one-goal margin in extra time, following a 7–7 draw at the end of regulation time. Super X from Koluedor finished in third place.

The top three teams were presented with trophies, while all participating teams received certificates of participation, sanitary pads, and transportation support.

In addition, ten girls were selected and appointed as HIV/AIDS Awareness Ambassadors to champion HIV prevention messages across both the Ada East and Ada West Districts.

Naana Kakie encouraged the participants to put into practice the lessons learnt during the educational sessions, protect themselves, and actively educate their peers and communities in order to help reduce the spread of HIV.