More than a hundreds young girls aged 14 to 18 have gathered at the Girls Guide Training Center in Accra for the annual Girls Governance Camp, organised by the Leading Ladies Network (LLN).
This year’s camp, themed “My Role as a Citizen and a Voter,” aims to deepen the civic knowledge of schoolgirls from Ga South municipality and other parts of Accra.
Speaking at the event’s opening, Ms Phiomina Tagoe, an LLN facilitator, stressed the importance of equipping young girls with a strong understanding of electoral processes.
She explained that informed girls are empowered to make well-considered decisions when selecting leaders, whether in national settings or within their communities.
“When voters understand the issues, policies, and candidates’ positions, they make choices that align with their own values and needs. This empowers individuals to play an active role in shaping their community and future,” she emphasised.
Ms Tagoe further noted that educating young girls on voting ensures a generation of voters who hold elected officials accountable, contributing to the integrity of Ghana’s democratic system.
Another representative of Ms Paulyn Apprey echoed this, stressing the importance of early civic education despite assumptions that young girls are “too young” to engage in voter education.
She said that involving them now not only teaches them to select capable leaders but also inspires aspirations for leadership.
LLN’s founder Ms Yawa Hansen-Quao underscored her organisation’s commitment to empowering young girls regardless of their backgrounds.
She affirmed, “We teach the girls that their gender should never be an obstacle for them. They can aspire as high as they want and be great.”
She added that the LLN team had recently extended its outreach to Tamale in the northern region, expanding the camp’s impact to more young girls.
A business development executive with HuD Group Ghana, Ms Ivana Ewurama Amponsah, commended the Girls Governance Camp as a “phenomenal” initiative, lauding its positive influence on participants.
She also called on women-centered organisations to address the needs of young girls in Ghana holistically.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU