Eradication of poverty revolves girl-child education – UNDP
Mr. Kwami Edem Senanu, National Project Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) has said the eradication of poverty hinges around the education of the girl-child.
He said educated and enlightened women spent almost 70% of their resources on their children’s education, health and well-being, consequently, educating the girl-child is crucial towards accelerated national socio-economic development.
Mr. Senanu was speaking at a durbar of the Chief and people of Sankore in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region on the theme: “Eradicating Extreme Poverty; Education is Key.”
The durbar, organized by Curious Minds, a youth-based advocacy organization, aimed at addressing issues affecting the general wellbeing of children and the youth.
Mr. Senanu noted that for Ghana to achieve the Millennium Development Goals it must tackle issues affecting the girl-child and the youth in particular, seriously.
The Western Regional Coordinator of Curious Minds, Mr. Oliver Cromwell, said the organization, made up of children and youth in broadcasting, organized one-month vacation classes free of charge for pupils and students in four communities in the Ahanta West District.
He said it formed part of the organization’s corporate social responsibility projects to assist pupils and students in the rural areas to be at par with their counterparts in the urban centres.
Some of the beneficiary communities were Yaako, Sankore, Bofin and Kwesikrom in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
Mr. Cromwell said Curious Minds organises community outreach and radio programmes for children across the country to help address issues militating against children’s wellbeing, especially, those in rural communities.
The Assembly Member for Yaako-Sankore Electoral Area, Mr. Lewis Ansah, expressed gratitude to the organization for the selfless venture geared towards the development of the district.
He complained about the lack of educational infrastructure and logistics resulting in low standard of education in the district.
“Because there are no teachers’ bungalows some trained teachers refuse postings to these areas so the activities of Curious Minds have really helped the pupils,” he explained.
He appealed to the government to provide them with textbooks and other logistics to create the enabling environment for teaching and learning.
Source: GNA