Maiden Girls in Aviation Day marked

By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - The maiden Girls in Aviation Day for girls from eight to 16 years with the aim of introducing them to possibilities available in a career in aviation was held in Accra at the weekend.

The Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) is an international event instituted by Women in Aviation International (WAI).

Speaking at the programme, Mrs Juliet Aboagye-Wiafe, the President of WAI Ghana Chapter called on stakeholders to take a critical look at the educational system in the country.

She explained that majority of girls are interested in the aviation industry, but restricting them to study science and other related subjects before being able to pursue their life dreams makes them abandon their aspirations.

"Our education system is fixed, but same cannot be said about abroad, we should therefore not restrict our children especially the girls to study science before being able to read engineering, let's take a critical look at our educational system," she said.

Speaking on the theme: "Connect, Explore and Experience," Mrs Aboagye-Wiafe said the programme was build on Daughter Day and GIAD conference held last year as the International Girls in Aviation Day.

She said the WAI programme also aimed at enabling girls to see exciting careers available to them as pilots, cabin attendants, engineers, marshallers and traffic controllers within the aviation community.

"The programme, which is being held for the first time in Ghana, is designed to give girls the opportunity to network with their counterparts in aviation, explore careers in aviation and aerospace industry.

"And this will also help our girls to experience first-hand what it is like to be a pilot or other aviation industry professionals," she said.

Mrs Aboagye-Wiafe noted that the day's programme also kicked start the outreach programmes of WAI Ghana Chapter, especially with second cycle and tertiary institutions,

"We strive to meet our core mandate of reaching out to our communities.'

She said more than 70 chapters and corporate members worldwide were expected to participate in the programme.

Mrs Joyce Bannerman-Wood, the Director Legal Services of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, said the programme was laudable and urged more women to join the sector towards the charting of their career.

The 2016 GIAD brought students to listen and interact with very accomplished women in aviation.

Participants also had an air force base tour, air traffic control stimulators, exhibition as well as a networking session as part of activities ear marked for the GIAD.

The event was sponsored by Amandi Ghana Limited, Ghana Aviation Training Academy and Ghana Airports Company Limited.

GNA