Olivia Bosompemaa, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinator of the Girl Child Education Unit at the Ghana Education Service (GES), has urged society to see young girls as leaders of both today and tomorrow and to invest in their potential.
She said this during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child in Accra, held under the theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”
The event was organised by the Schools Outreach Ministry (SOM) of the Church of Pentecost (CoP) in collaboration with the Women’s Ministry, Sakumono Area and the Girls Education Unit of the Greater Accra Education Directorate.
Bosompemaa encouraged young girls to identify who they are, recognise their worth and refuse to be constrained by societal expectations.
She urged them to challenge stereotypes, push boundaries and build strong support networks to drive the positive change they envision.
“For far too long, girls were not regarded as full human beings in society,” she said. “They were denied quality education, adequate health information and often had their freedoms trampled upon. This must change.”
She described this year’s theme as particularly relevant, stressing that it underscored the crucial role girls play in navigating crises and leading change in their communities.
Bosompemaa highlighted that girls naturally possess strength, resilience, leadership, problem-solving abilities and wisdom qualities society must nurture through supportive environments.
She cited the ‘Girls for Leadership’ initiative being implemented by GES, which encourages schools to elect girls as head prefects rather than merely serving as assistants to boys.
The initiative, she said, aims to build confidence and develop leadership skills among girls from a young age.
She also encouraged girls to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), fields traditionally dominated by men, so they can contribute effectively to national development.
“We want to assure the men and boys gathered here that these initiatives are not to replace you,” she said.
“They are meant to bridge the gender gap, foster collective growth and strengthen our communities. Let us listen to and amplify girls’ voices, see them as leaders of today and tomorrow and invest in their potential.”
Frank Mensah Tando, Coordinator of the Schools Outreach Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, said the Church considered the day highly significant and could not remain uninvolved.
“As a church, we felt it was important to create awareness about the challenges young girls face and contribute meaningfully to their empowerment,” he said.
He added that the Word of God remained one of the Church’s greatest tools for guiding and transforming lives. Through its teachings, young people especially girls could discover their identity and worth in Christ.
“Girls must believe in who God has created them to be,” Tando said.
“They do not need to change to fit societal expectations. Instead, they should cultivate their God-given potential and develop every gift within them to become the best versions of themselves.”
He encouraged young girls to remain steadfast in faith, persevere through life’s challenges, and draw strength from God.
“The vision of the Church is to possess the nations, and in pursuing this vision, we are committed to nurturing the young girl with Christian values, kingdom principles, and a strong sense of purpose to impact society positively.”
The Sakumono Area Head Pastor of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Nana Yaw Adjei, said the Church was committed to instilling discipline, purity, prayerfulness and holiness in the lives of young girls.
He explained that bringing the girls together helps them to build strong Christian foundations and resist ungodly influences that often infiltrate schools and society.
“We want to show them the way of Christ, to live godly, disciplined, and prayerful lives,” Apostle Adjei said. “Through this, we shall possess the nations for the Lord.”
The celebration, which brought together hundreds of young girls, educators and church leaders, was marked by inspiring messages, musical performances, and mentoring sessions all geared toward empowering the girl child to take her rightful place as a leader and change agent in society.
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