More than 1,000 girls have been encouraged to set clear personal boundaries, protect their bodies and take responsibility for shaping their futures at a summit in Ghana’s Western North Region.
The advice was delivered at the inaugural Biology of the Girl Child Summit, hosted at Debiso College of Education as part of activities marking the International Day of the Girl Child and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Morkporkpor Adalevor, International Coordinator of the GIMAT Volunteer Network, told the girls they should not rely solely on other people to determine the direction of their lives.
She urged them to make well-informed choices about their health and personal development, while taking an active role in protecting themselves.
“Let your no be your no. As the world invests in you, be able to invest in yourself. Take care of your bodies, protect your bodies, preserve your bodies,” she said.
Ms Adalevor also called on the girls to establish their ambitions at an early stage and accept responsibility for working towards them.
“If you don’t know what you want, the world will not help you to know what you want,” she added.
The summit also focused on breast health and the importance of responding quickly to possible warning signs.
Michael Owusu, Deputy Chief Physician Assistant at Essam Government Hospital in the Bia West District, advised girls and women to seek medical care if they detected unusual changes in their breasts.
He highlighted early detection and prompt treatment as important factors in improving outcomes for people with breast cancer.
The event combined discussions on girls’ physical health, personal safety and future development in one forum. It was held amid wider calls for increased attention to the challenges faced by adolescent girls.
