Plan Ghana promotes 'Girls' Takeover' 2018

Plan International Ghana has observed 2018 International Day of the Girl Child, which falls on October 11 every year to champion and give girls the power and opportunity to share their plight.

The celebration aimed at inspiring commitments and actions of the global community to promote fundamental rights of girls for wholistic development.

Plan International Upper West Ghana Unit with its partners provided girls an opportunity to 'take over' Radio Upper West as hosts and guests during the station's morning show on October 11 to discuss issues affecting them in the Region.

Young girls came mostly from the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus, to moderate the morning show programme as hosts and panel members.

Key regional leaders and directors of state agencies and civil society organizations also contributed to the issues discussed that largely bordered on rape and defilement.

Inspector Stella Niabi of the Wa Regional DOVVSU who played guest, said inability to pay medical exams fee inhabited justice for rape and defilement victims.

'Currently no money or funds set aside and so victims of rape and defilement had to bear their medical cost, which many are unable to pay, most of them do not have money, so out of our pockets we do pay some of the medical bills on grounds of humanity,' she said.

She noted that inability of rape and defilement victims to pay for their medical fees: 'is hindering investigations and prosecutions'.

She appealed to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as well as district assemblies to consider establishing domestic violence and victim support fund particularly for rape and defilement victims to access.

Ms Umufadilu Zakaria, a student of UDS in Campus, told the Ghana News Agency that the current jail term for rape and defilement culprits of five to 25 years be increased.

She urged Members of Parliament to consider tougher punishment, aside a longer jail term, for perpetrators of rape and defilement.

Dr Abdulai Abubakar, the Acting Director of Ghana Health Service of Upper West, said expressed worry medical reports were not covered by the national health insurance scheme.

'When you go to hospital and you face any challenges in accessing healthcare, approach the management for all you know some of the charges may not be known by management,' he add.

This global action for International Day of the Girl is a call for a social and political revolution to tear down the barriers that continue to hold girls back.

By occupying spaces and places where they are rarely seen or heard, girls and young women are showing where they belong and demanding equality.

During the Girls Takeover, girls stepped up while leaders stepped aside, becoming Presidents, Ministers and Chief Executive Officers and more to demand equality all over the world.

GNA

By D.I. Laary, GNA