The DCE for Upper Manya Krobo Felix Nartey Odjao, on Friday temporarily relinquished his position to a form two female student of Asesewa SHS Juliet Dede, as part of the celebration of International Day of the Girl.
The student subsequently chaired an event organized by Plan International Ghana to observe International Day for the Girl where she discharged duties in her capacity as a District Chief Executive.
According to the DCE, the decision to relinquish power was to reinforce commitment of the assembly to empowering young females to take up leadership positions. He said women have equal potentials and capabilities like men hence the time is now for women to be given opportunities to occupy male dominated positions in governance.
Mr Odjao told Starr News that the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly has therefore commenced programs to deal with alarming teenage pregnancy menace in the district through combined efforts with the Department of Social Welfare and Domestic Violence and Victims Support Units.
“People are always tempted to associate the issue of teenage pregnancy with poverty, it is partially correct but in my candid opinion the huge percentage of girls who get pregnant is not mainly of poverty. Inability of parents to manage expectations of their children in terms of what they want to have. They want to poses clothing, mobile phones and even things they may not necessarily need at that age,” he said.
The Eastern Regional Manager of Plan International Ghana, Kofi Adade Debrah said the NGO will continue to empower young females through its programs to ensure that women who represent 51% of the National Population, occupy critical leadership positions in the country.
“Over the years, women have not had the needed opportunities that will enhance their movement to the top so we in Plan International together with our collaborators including government of Ghana as portrayed today, where position of the District Chief Executive was taken over by a girl and that tells you that government is in support of what we are doing,” he noted.
Since 2012, October 11 has been marked as International Day of the Girl . The Day instituted by the United Nations aims at highlighting and addressing the needs and challenges girls’ face.
Stakeholders take the opportunity to reflect on interventions for promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights while creating awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide.
The theme for 2019 International Day of the Girl was ‘GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable.”
A float was held on the streets of Asesewa to mark the day in the district.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/KojoAnsah
