She said the girl-child had a lot of potentials and that when given the needed  support could do much for both her community and the nation at large and, therefore, must be assisted in every way possible to maximize her God given potentials.

Mrs Akuoko was speaking at the Western Regional launch of the Girls Education Network, an association of non-governmental, development partners and civil society organisations to give impetus to girls’ education which is recognised as a key factor to poverty alleviation.

The Metropolitan Education Director was unhappy with the current situation of most girls within the metropolis particularly the peri-urban, adding; “The rate of teenage pregnancy is alarming, we need to rescue the perishing as soon as possible”.

Mrs Josephine Roman, the Regional Girl-Child Coordinator and Focal Person of the Network, said the Network was established on the premise that education was fundamental to curbing the cycle of poverty among rural girls in particular.

“It is envisaged that the network will enable systematic coordination and monitoring of all current and future efforts for girls education as well as the needs of all Ghanaian girls,” she said.

Mrs Roman said the Network would work at eliminating all forms of violence against women and harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation, child trafficking, and sexual and other types of exploitation in line with the sustainable development agenda of the country.

Mrs Enyonam Amafugah, the Regional Director of Education, said the creation of Girls Unit was to bridge the gap between boys and girls in terms of academic progression adding; “Today, we see women taking ministerial and managerial positions as well as working in other professional areas”.

She said the “Back to school” programme for teenage mothers had been instituted to encourage otherwise dropout girls to have a second chance to help realise their dreams.