Reducing gender-based violence is essential for progress across numerous Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. Forms of violence such as sexual abuse, harmful sociocultural practices, and economic deprivation deny girls their right to education. This not only infringes on their rights but also prevents them from fully benefiting from their educational opportunities. Additionally, such violence disrupts and undermines the development progress of the girl child.

Over the past few decades, ActionAid has facilitated the formation and operation of girls’ clubs in our community schools to empower girls to identify and advocate for their rights, to withstand cultural shocks for a dignified life. Currently, ActionAid has established 72 clubs across our three Local Rights Programs (LRPs) in the Northern region, with each club having a total membership of between 30 and 35 girls.

These clubs are receiving support to operate effectively through tailored capacity-building training designed by both club patrons and the girls themselves. The training provided to club members focuses on leadership, confidence building, public speaking, and other essential skills. AAG’s new country strategy paper VII emphasizes the importance of quality and gender-responsive public basic education. Specifically, strategic priority three outlines AAG’s commitment to fostering active citizenship, accountability, and gender-responsive public services, with a particular emphasis on basic education.

Annually, the NRP facilitates the organization of a conference that seeks to bring selected members of girls’ clubs and their patrons to share reports of their activities, successes, and challenges and learn from other clubs.

Themed “Promoting Girl Child Education and Leadership: The Role of the Girl Child,” this year’s conference took a different approach by emphasizing open discussions about the challenges hindering girls’ development in the region. Topics addressed included teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and personal menstrual hygiene.

Linda Amoah, the Regional Girls’ Education Officer, praised the initiative by ActionAid Ghana. She explained that the girls’ clubs have significantly contributed to maintaining a high retention rate of girls in schools within the region. Amoah stated, “Girls’ clubs have provided girls in basic schools with a sense of responsibility and belonging. ActionAid Ghana has been advocating for girls’ education since the 2000s, and I am pleased that the girls’ clubs continue to thrive. These girls require proper mentorship and training, so I want to personally express my gratitude for AAG’s support. Like Oliver Twist, I encourage other like-minded NGOs to join us in supporting girls. Together, we can help provide girls with a dignified life.”

At the conference, Madam Rosina Zenabu Abdul-Rahaman, the Girl Child Education Coordinator for the Sagnarigu Municipal of the Ghana Education Service, addressed the girls, emphasizing that reproductive health and the challenges faced by adolescents should be a top priority for the government. She highlighted that the longstanding issue of menstrual hygiene affecting adolescent girls is hindering the full achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals regarding gender equality.

“ActionAid Ghana's girl club initiative is very timely. It has significantly boosted the confidence of girls across many schools in the region. Girls are now more assertive and feel comfortable disclosing their challenges, and they actively listen to the solutions provided during their club meetings,” she stated.

Madam Beatrice Biije, the regional program officer for ActionAid Tamale, explained the purpose of the conference. She reiterated that it was organized to create a platform where girls could learn from experienced women and resource persons about overcoming the challenges they face in their daily lives. Additionally, she noted that the conference provided an opportunity for these girls to connect and learn from their peers from other schools.

The conference also attracted groups and experts from academia, state actors, child development consultants, and education specialists.