Nadowli:The African Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (AfCHuRSD) has successfully enhanced the leadership capacities of students from selected Senior and Junior High Schools in the Nadowli-Kaleo and Daffiama-Busie-Issa (DBI) districts.
According to Ghana News Agency, 52 students and eight teachers from Daffiama, Queen of Peace SHSs, Tangasie, Kalsigra, Nadowli, and Goriyiri R/C Basic School participated in the training. They were equipped with governance and advocacy skills during sessions held at Nadowli and Daffiama.
The training aimed to provide students with leadership and public speaking skills, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their schools and communities. Additionally, participants were educated on the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), to deepen their understanding of gender equality and women's participation in decision-making.
Madam Bernice Naah, Executive Director of AfCHuRSD, highlighted that although women make up more than 50% of Ghana's population, according to the 2020 Population and Housing Census, they are underrepresented in formal decision-making processes. She noted that women's absence from public leadership means inadequate representation of half the population.
The Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act (Act 1121) is designed to address this gap, aiming for at least 30% women's representation by 2026, 35% by 2028, and 50% by 2034. However, only 41 out of 276 Members of Parliament are women, falling short of the 30% minimum threshold set by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.
Madam Naah pointed out that the Act was passed after the major political parties conducted their parliamentary primaries, limiting its influence on women's participation in the 2024 general election.
Part of AfCHuRSD's Girls and Women Economic Empowerment, Livelihood and Participation in Leadership (GWEEL) project, the training aimed to empower young people, particularly young women, with leadership, governance, and advocacy skills to promote gender equality.
Participants engaged in group presentations to enhance their confidence, communication, and public speaking skills. They also explored career pathways in medicine, nursing, teaching, journalism, politics, and security services. The students pledged to be ambassadors against teenage pregnancy and early marriage, which threaten their education and future career prospects.