Africa-Press – Ghana. The Northern Regional Programme Office of ActionAid Ghana, has organized the 2025 Annual Girls’ Empowerment and Advocacy Platforms (GEAP) Conference in Tamale.
The event provided a unique platform for girls and other relevant stakeholders to discuss wide-ranging issues aimed at strengthening education, protection, and leadership opportunities for young girls across the country.
It featured strong girl-led participation including a plenary session where GEAP members independently discussed issues such as menstrual hygiene, safety in schools, access to educational resources, and leadership opportunities, as well as took part in networking.
The “Art for Change” segment of the event also allowed the girls to express their concerns creatively through poetry, drama, and visual art.
The conference brought together girls from GEAPs across the Northern Region, educators, development partners, gender activists, school authorities, traditional leaders, government officials, civil society organizations, and media practitioners.
It was held on the theme: “Invest in Her Future: Mobilizing Resources for Quality Girl-Child Education and Transformative Leadership Through Gender-Responsive Public Education”.
Madam Beatrice Yanman Biije, Northern Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, who spoke on the importance of the GEAP initiative, said they were established to create a safe space for girls to discuss issues affecting their lives, strengthen their leadership abilities, and advocate for equitable access to quality education.
She said the theme for the conference underscored the urgent need for gender-responsive systems that addressed the specific needs of girls and remove barriers that hindered their development.
She added that investment in girls could lead to stronger communities, healthier families, and greater national progress, describing the GEAP initiative as a vital tool for building the next generation of female leaders.
Mr John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, speaking during the event, said his organisation acknowledged government’s efforts such as the Re-entry Policy of GES and the distribution of free sanitary pads in promoting girls’ access to quality education, but emphasised that there was the need to ensure supportive and fully inclusive learning environments for girls.
He also emphasised the need to expand access to quality education, enhance adolescent health services, including reproductive health education, and deepen collaboration with traditional authorities to enforce laws against child marriage.
The girls presented a petition to the Regional Director of Education, calling on stakeholders among others to expand education access, protect girls from child marriages, promote vocational and entrepreneurship training to boost their economic prospects.
They recommended that the Regional Coordinating Council oversee the implementation of these interventions and convene quarterly review meetings to track progress.
Mr Alhassan Alidu Junior, Northern Regional Director of Education, reiterated government’s commitment to promoting girls’ education through gender-responsive teaching reforms, the provision of free sanitary pads, and supportive policies that encouraged girls to remain in school.
He urged the girls to remain focused on their studies and take full advantage of existing interventions.
Mrs Bushira Alhassan, Northern Regional Director, Department of Gender, Children and Social Protection, sensitized the girls on responsible reproductive health practices and cautioned against the misuse of contraceptives.
She encouraged them to prioritize education as the foundation for responsible adulthood and future leadership.
ActionAid Ghana currently supports GEAP clubs in more than 57 districts across 11 regions, providing platforms for girls to build confidence, develop leadership abilities, and advocacy for their rights.
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