Young girls must aspire to be future leaders - 2nd Lady

Second Lady, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur has called upon the youth in Ghana, especially girls, to take their education seriously and aspire to be high achievers.

She said the aspiration to achieve would lead to a decrease in teenage pregnancy, which is presently a pervading social vice for the nation.

The Second Lady further asserted that the girls must not let people discourage or mislead them from focusing on achieving their aforementioned goals, because the future for Ghana is ultimately in their hands.

Speaking at the opening of the 2014 Annual National Girls Camp in Accra, under the theme: “Aspire To Inspire: Empowering Girls for Community Development” on Friday 22nd August 2014 at the Achimota Basic School in Accra, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur charged the girls with the task of embracing the opportunities available to them at the camp.

The ten-day camp is being organised by Action AID Ghana in collaboration with the Girls Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service.

She called on the girls to serve as role models in their communities when they return home from the camp and expound what they learn to those around them. In doing so, they can help fight undisciplined acts, such as littering, disregard for the environment and poor sanitation.

Additionally, the Second Lady stressed the need for the organisers of the Camp to instill religious discipline in the girls in order to shape them for the future. Adding that irrespective of a good education, one can still be mislead by immoral characters, so faith in God should be a cornerstone in their lives.

Action Aid, orchestrators of the camp, received praise for the job they continue to do for the Ghanaian public. The organisations efforts to establish a camp that promotes assertiveness, self-esteem and confidence within young girls and their attempts to reduce discrimination and marginalization was met with a warm-reception.

The personnel used by Action Aid as resources and role models included: Mrs. Angela Dwemena Aboagye, Director of the Ark Foundation, Gifty Anti, President of The Girl In Need Foundation and the winner of last year’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful award.

Ms Gifty Anti, President of The Girl in Need Foundation, urged the girls to embrace education, taking their newfound approach to life back to their friends and communities.

Miss. Anti further stipulated that the girls should embrace the opportunities available to them, instead of focusing on any negatives surrounding their personal circumstances.

Mr. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, Country Director of Action AID, stated that the 160 girls attending the 2014 National Girls Camp were selected from deprived communities in six regions. The move to select girls from deprived communities is typical of Action AID’s attempts to provide opportunities to those who are less fortunate.