The Executive Director of STAR-GHANA Foundation, Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, has called for a collaborative approach from all stakeholders toward the promotion of girls’ education in the country.

He said the performance between boys and girls has not been the best despite efforts by the government, civil society organisations (CSOs), development partners, traditional authorities, parents, and others to improve the situation.

Mr Ibrahim-Tanko was speaking at a forum on girls’ education organised by STAR-Ghana Foundation under its Gender Rights and Empowerment Programme (G-REP). The forum which was held for stakeholders in the northern sector took place in Tamale on February 2, 2023.

The Executive Director said there is an interplay of several causes such as poverty, traditional and religious beliefs, and practices that affect the education of girls, particularly in the northern part of the country.

“So, when we talk about girls’ education, we are looking at access which has improved - enrolment has improved- we could gain gender parity. It is the retention from primary to junior high and senior high school, and the performance that is a problem.

“We need to find ways of ensuring that girls attend school, stay, and perform well. There is simply no way we can develop if we are not able to address this,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim-Tanko noted that the importance of girls’ education cannot be overemphasised, and several studies have shown that investing in girls’ education is the most effective means countries can reduce inequality and strengthen economies.

“How can we address quality and resource constraints? If we continue to do things in the normal, we will continue to get the normal results. We need to challenge each other and not cover up the issues to be able to arrive at the kind of solutions that we want.”

“We should create a safe space for critical consultations to generate the solutions and recommendations we need towards improving girls’ education,” he said.

He encouraged role models to step up and mentor and support girls to attain higher laurels in education.

“It takes parents and the community to turn off the television sets, social media and get girls to also focus on their education,” he said.

Forum

Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko said the forum was part of strategies by STAR-Ghana Foundation under the G-REP to promote girls’ education in the country.

The forum brought together development partners, civil society organisations and government agencies to re-examine existing strategies, renew commitments and build consensus on improved and continuous access to quality education for girls in Northern Ghana.

In an address, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, commended STAR-Ghana Foundation for its effort and commitment to the development of Northern Ghana.

“STAR-Ghana Foundation has been involved in several initiatives, strategies, and a wide range of development issues over the years. Northern Ghana especially, has been the biggest beneficiary of the initiatives of STAR-Ghana Foundation. We must commend the Foundation for its effort and commitment to the development of Northern Ghana,” he said.

He said education remains the key to the development and progress of any society which also demands that premium be always placed on it.

Alhaji Shaibu noted successive governments have made strides to improve the lots of the girls in school in the last three decades through policies such as a 10-year Education Plan for Girls, the creation of Girls’ Education Unit (GEU) under the Ghana Education Service (GES), and School Feeding Programme, among others.

Complementing government efforts, he said, are several non-governmental organisations and CSOs that have worked assiduously in the sector in addressing cost-related challenges and embarking on widespread advocacy on the importance of girls’ education.

“Almost all of us agree that if we fail to provide the needed attention to girls’ education, we cannot achieve any meaningful development. I want to assure you all that government will continue to provide the relevant support to girls’ education to ensure that every child realizes her potential,” he said.

G-REP

The G-REP is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) funded project aimed at contributing to increased access to rights and quality social services for women and girls.

The programme which covers 47 districts in 6 regions, including three in northern Ghana, Central, Eastern and Volta regions is intended at increasing the effectiveness of civil society advocacy for women and girls’ political and social rights, particularly rights to inclusive and quality social services and participation in public governance at the national and sub-national levels.