<<Print>>Nana Abenaa Boatemaa, the President of the National Queen-mothers Association of Ghana, has entreated adolescent girls to preserve their virginity for marriage. She emphasized that pre-marital sex was not only sinful, but also defied the dignity of womanhood and contributed to low self esteem among women.
Nana Boatemaa, who is the paramount queen-mother of Odumase Number One in the Sunyani West District, gave the advice at the opening of the annual girls’ leadership conference of the Action Aid Ghana, a Non-governmental Organization, in Sunyani.
About 98 school girls drawn from Tain, Banda, Asutifi North and Asutifi South Districts of Brong-Ahafo, are attending the five-day conference at the Sunyani Senior High School, under the theme: “Girls Camp: Celebrating Girl Empowerment for Leadership.”
Nana Boatemaa noted that adolescent girls who engaged in sexual promiscuity were always prone to sexual infections and diseases.
Nana Yaa Nyamaa, Queen-mother of the Sunyani Traditional Area, recounted that sexual intercourse in the olden days was reserved for only husbands and wives.
She lamented that most girls, had now gone to the extreme of practising pornography.
Nana Nyamaa noted that advancement in technology and the social media in particular, had spoiled girls, and exposed many of them to unacceptable foreign cultures.
Ms Christiana Amarchey, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Prgoramme Manager of Action Aid, said according to World Bank’s 2012 World Development Report on gender equality, 31 million girls were out of school across the globe.
She observed that the issue of girls missing education had direct negative impact on their confidence to take up leadership positions.
This appalling picture, Ms Amarchey explained, was also a reflection of how women were excluded from leadership at both the public and private spheres.
“The situation which Ghana is no exception, should not continue because it is an affront to the rights of women,” she added.
Ms Amarchey noted that inequalities began at home, stressing that the sharing of responsibilities between boys and girls in the home would enable girls to be in school, and enhance women participation in decision-making process which was vital for development.
She explained that the girls camp was instituted in 2009, and since then about 378 girls had benefited at the regional level, while more than 774 had also benefited from the districts.
Ms Amarchey said the programme empowered girls enough to offer themselves for leadership positions, and also made parents, boys and society at large, to appreciate their leadership potentials.