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A community project initiated by Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited (Stanchart) to harness and develop the skills and talents of girls to become responsible citizens (under its flagship programme known as the Goal Project) is benefitting more than 800 young girls in deprived communities in the country.
The Goal project, initiated in the country in 2006, is to provide financial support for the young girls in respect of their education and life skills training to enable them to play active leadership roles in their families, communities and Ghana as a whole.
It targets adolescent girls (between the ages of 12 and 20) from low income families in urban areas and it is to bridge the gender inequality gap in societies by positioning the girls to be agents of change.
It was first launched in 2006 in New Delhi, India, as a pilot project which was able to reach 70 areas.
The project, being implemented in the country, in collaboration with the Right to Dream Academy (RTD), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Akuse in the Eastern Region, has so far (from 2006 to 2016) benefited more than 28,000 girls in over 21 countries where Stanchart operates.
Launch
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanchart, Mrs Mansa Nettey, said at the official launch of the project at Akuse, that it formed part of the bank's corporate social responsibility (CSR) which focused on education and human development.
She said investing in young girls had a multiple effect on the community and the nation at large, noting that the central aim of the project was to bridge the gap between men and women in society.
As part of activities at the launch, a football match was arranged between RTD Academy and Nimoba Girls from Nima in Accra.
"At Standard Chartered, we recognise that gender equality is critical to economic growth. If countries around the world could achieve gender parity, global annual GDP could increase by as much as US$12 trillion by 2025. Educating girls and giving them tools to shape their own future has an incredible intergenerational multiple effect on communities and societies," she said.
A member of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mrs Felicia Gbesemete, encouraged the girls to pursue their dreams in spite of the challenges they might encounter on their way.
Determination
The Managing Director of Right to Dream, Mr Robin Bourne-Taylor, said the purpose of the training given to the girls was to instil a sense of discipline in them.
He said sports activities were meant to teach young girls discipline and how to live chaste and responsible lives as they matured as adults.
In her address, a Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Gifty Twum Ampofo, said the Goal Project had come at the right time and advised the young girls to remain committed to their dreams and not allow anyone to deceive them to lose focus and direction.
She said the ministry had put in place the necessary mechanisms to support young girls and the youth to grow to become responsible citizens.
