The global theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Girls’ Progress Goals Progress: What Counts for Girls.” A statement signed by Sophia Amissah-Laryea, President, said Zonta Club of Accra Metropolitan is aware of the vulnerability and range of social and political barriers faced by the adolescent girls.

The statement said while girls hold promise of becoming future leaders with the capacity to effect change factors such as unwanted pregnancy, forced and early marriage, gender based violence, among others could affect their development.

It said to commemorate the day, Zonta Club of Accra Metropolitan would on Friday 14 October hold a seminar for girls between the ages of 15 and 17 to raise their self-awareness level to understand the unique challenges they face and provide them with the knowledge and skills to address and overcome the challenges.

The statement said the seminar would deal with three main areas: How to set goals for themselves, awareness of the values they need to develop and their health mental and physical well-being.

It said the three areas were selected based on Zonta Metro’s belief that the creation of self-awareness marked the start of a process for making critical decisions towards achieving self- empowerment. “Empowering girls requires their active participation in decision making processes and the active support and engagement of their parents, legal guardians, families and care providers as well as boys and men and the wider community,” the statement said.

It urged families, institutions, public and private organisations, the media and well-meaning members of the public to promote issues affecting the development of the girl- child.