Stanchart Unveils Ghana Goal Project

Deputy Minister (third right) supporting officials of Standard Chartered and Right to Dream Academy to unveil the Goal programme

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited has unveiled one of its global corporate social responsibility initiatives dubbed, 'Goal' in the country.

The Goal programme aims at empowering adolescent girls from deprived homes across the world using sport and life skills and financial education to enable them play active roles in their families, communities and economies.

The initiative, which targets adolescent girls aged 12 to 20, was reportedly launched in 2006 as a pilot project in Delhi, India, targeting 70 girls initially.

By the close of 2016, the initiative had accordingly reached over 285,000 girls across 17 markets in which Standard Chartered operates.

Goal is delivered through local partners and implemented at the community level through young coaches.

In Ghana, Standard Chartered has partnered Right to Dream Academy to implement the programme.

The initiative in Ghana, which was launched on Monday at the Right to Dream Academy, which is a purpose-built, fully-residential academy located on the banks of the Lake Volta in the Eastern Region, seeks to reach out to about 800 girls from across the country in its first year.

Speaking at the launch, which was marked by a soccer match between the female teams of Right To Dream Academy and Nimobi, which ended 2-0 in favor of Right to Dream Academy, the Chief Executive (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bank, Mansa Nettey, explained that the bank was passionate about investing in the holistic development young girls to enable them become future role models and leaders.

She said “we believe that investing in the education of adolescent girls has an incredible multiplier effect on their communities and societies.”

A member of the board of directors of Standard Chartered Bank, Felicia Gbesemete, in a remark, observed that it was a duty of every citizen, who has benefitted from education, to impact future generations.

“Beyond educating girls, we need to empower and equip girls with the confidence and skills they need to become leaders in their communities and the nation,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gifty Twum-Ampofo, on her part, lauded Standard Chartered Bank for introducing the programme, which seeks to promote gender parity.

She said that despite several initiatives over the years, gender inequality is still a major problem in Ghana, hampering the development and empowerment of women.

She said that empowering girls through sports and financial education would go a long way to help them achieve their dreams in life.

By Melvin Tarlue