The Third Annual Regional Girls' Leadership Development and Empowerment Conference for 50
selected participants, between 12-15 years from Asutifi and Tain districts of Brong Ahafo Region began in Sunyani on Thursday.
The three-day conference, under the auspices of Action Aid Ghana (AAG), a British non-governmental organisation, working with poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and
injustice, is on the theme: "Developing the leader in Girls through Education."
It is aimed at nurturing and empowering girls to unleash their leadership potentials and qualities as preparatory tools for effective contribution to the well-being of their communities and the larger society.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf commended organisations like the AAG, whose contributions had influenced Ghanaians to appreciate the fact that the social standing of women should be redefined and enhanced.
He said government would create the enabling environment for the girl-child to unearth her innate potentials in order to participate in decision-making, especially at the local level.
Mr Jones Samuel Tawiah, Tain District Chief Executive, said the assembly would partner organisations like the AAG to ensure that girls receive the education that would boost their self
confidence to take up future leadership roles.
Mr Tawiah said the assembly over the years had sponsored girls in the district for Science, Technology and Mathematics Clinics.
Miss Christina Amarchey, Programme Manager of Action Aid, Brong-Ahafo said in a speech read on her behalf that the organisation considered developing the leadership qualities of girls through education primarily as a right, which often served as "an empowering tool" to release their creative potentials.
She said Action Aid began operating in Ghana in 1990 and now worked with more than one million people in Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Brong Ahafo, Greater Accra and Volta regions.
Miss Amarchey said the establishment of the Brong Ahafo Region Development Programme in 2000 as an entry point to mid-Ghana in its effort to assume national character had brought a lot of success, particularly to the development areas of Asutifi and Tain districts.
The Programme Manager Action Aid and its partners had succeeded in enhancing teaching and learning in the region by building "rights consciousness, the can-do spirit and
assertiveness into school children, especially females through the girls' camps"