The International Day of the Girl Child, (IDGC), is celebrated every year, to focus attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girl child empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
The theme for this year is “Eradicating Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, the Time to Press for Change is Now”. In line with this, an awareness creation was organized by the Upper East Regional branch of Cama to commemorate the day in Bolgatanga.
The celebration brought together some selected students of Cama network schools in the Upper East Region. Numbering about 70, they commenced a rout match from the Catholic Social Center through the principal streets of Bolgatnaga carrying placards some which read; “educate a girl and she will change the world” “Educating the a girl, will undoubtedly improve her life” among others.
They later converged at the Veterans Association of Ghana VAG hall, for an address by their executives.
Cama members, who seek to see the bright future of the girl child, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the day.
Cama is an alumina of the Campaign for Female Education, Camfed is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1993 with mission to eradicate poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women.
Cama is a strong network for over Two thousand, 500 young women who are benefiting from Camfed’s sponsorship.
They are united by commitment to develop themselves through education and to invest the benefits of their education back to their communities.
They support each other using Cama network as a platform to become agents of change within their communities and beyond.
The network operates within 31 districts of the Upper East, Upper West, Northern and Central regions of Ghana.
Speaking to Radio Ghana the Regional chairperson of Cama, Elizabeth Memuna Baba, a beneficiary of Camfed scholarship said that, the theme has been chosen to create the awareness of young girls in the region and for that matter the country as a whole, to know that early pregnancy will derail their goal in life which can hinder them from attaining greater highest.
She underscored the relevance of being a member of the network saying, there are a lot opportunities one stands to gain as cama member and that the network builds member’s confidents, enhancing their educational carrier and sharing experiences by travelling within Ghana and abroad.
She urged other young girls to join the cama network to develop their selves-esteem.
Ms. Memuna lamented how the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child was silent in Ghana and appeal to government to make the day more pronounced and chiefs to revisit some of the by-laws that restrict young girls marrying early to help reverse the trend.
The guest speaker for the day and founder of the Ghana Advocacy for Social Inclusion and Girls Education also a beneficiary of Camfed indicated that for to contribute significantly to the development of mother Ghana, they need to concentrate on their education and grow to maturity in order to realize their full potentials.
She called on leaders and those who have, through the support of Camfed achieved some feet, give back to their communities to help others othes gorw as well.
Ms. Memuna concluded that the girl child is not an Island they live in communities and by the awareness creation; the people in the various communities will get to know the needs of the girl child and assist them to grow.
Story by: GBCs Correspondent Emmanuel Akayeti
