By
Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA
Kumasi, Oct 13, GNA – Mrs. Vida Owusu, Girl
Child Coordinator of Kumasi Metropolitan Education Office, has underscored the
need for everyone to join in the advocacy to support and empower the girl child
discover their potentials.
This, she said, was vital to churning out
responsible mothers and women leaders in our societies.
Girls played pivotal roles in the development
of every home, workplace and almost every social gathering, adding that, “with
the girl child, we have a nation”.
Mrs. Owusu was speaking at the 2018
International Day of the Girl Child organized by the Defence for Children
International Ghana (DCI) in Kumasi.
This year’s celebration was held under theme
“With her: a skilled force”.
She expressed optimism that with increased
advocacy, the abuses girls faced in their homes, schools and communities would
cease.
She asked that more was done to inspire them
to be innovative, to take charge of their own future.
Mr. Stephen Darfour, Ashanti Regional Director
for the Department of Children, advised girls to take their education serious
and resist early marriages.
He said over two million girls around the
globe were forced into early marriages as at the end of 2017.
Mr. Darfour pleaded with parents to open up to
their children so that they could report cases of abuse to them.
Nana Akomanyi Essandoh V, the President
DCI-Ghana, pledged to continue to champion the cause of children, urging girls
to develop self-esteem to avoid being lured into indecent acts.
He used the platform to counsel parents to
report abuse cases to the police and to refuse to accept home settlement in
case their daughters were abused.
GNA