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Her Voice, Her Choice, Her Future: NGSDC 2025 Inspires a Generation
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, Sixteen (16) senior high schools from across Ghana gathered at Accra Girls’ Senior High School for the official opening of the 2025 National Girls’ Speech and Debate Championship (NGSDC).
This is a nationwide initiative that is fast becoming one of the most transformative platforms for student expression, empowerment, and leadership.
Held under the theme “Her Voice, Her Choice, Her Future,” this year’s event opened with a passionate call to action from the Executive Director of NGSDC, Mrs. Dora Badu Owusu-Adomah, who urged young participants to take charge of their future by embracing purpose, kindness, and self-discipline.
Addressing a packed auditorium of students, teachers, judges, and dignitaries, the Executive Director reminded the audience that “your life is not a performance. It is a project. Build it with care.”
The opening ceremony featured remarks from Ms. Richlove Animah Berchie, representing the Honourable Minister for Education, and Dr. Osman Tahidu Damba, Secretary-General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, both of whom emphasized the importance of creating platforms that uplift young girls and amplify their voices in national development.
A thought-provoking panel discussion titled “The Youth’s Future Conversation” brought together a diverse group of speakers including journalist Dep. Secretary General, Ghana Commission for UNESCO Dr. Nazia Ibrahim, Ayisha Yakubu, civic leader Mrs. Gifty M. Dumelo, and student debater Francisca Odoom of Gomoa SHTS.
Topics ranged from youth mindset and social media influence to responsibility, discipline, and the importance of finding purpose early in life.
The Executive Director also used the platform to address troubling trends such as bullying, peer pressure, and the rise of risky behaviours among students, cautioning those who tear others down with words or encourage irresponsible choices.
“True leadership lifts people higher; it doesn’t pull them into regret,” she said.
The Round of 16 kicked off immediately after the ceremony, featuring engaging speech presentations from all 16 participating schools.
Each presentation reflected the theme, showcasing the students’ passion, originality, and critical thinking on issues affecting girls and youth in Ghana today.
As the event progresses toward the finals, the NGSDC continues to position itself as a powerful force for change—not only by providing a stage for academic excellence, but also by mentoring a generation of girls to rise boldly and lead with purpose.
The NGSDC is powered by MerMac Productions a subsidiary of the Help A Girl Foundation in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Commission for UNESCO, and several corporate and community sponsors such as MARGINS ID Group, CUPA Study International, Twellium Industries among others.
The event continues in the coming weeks with the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Grand Finale scheduled for July.
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
By Spectator Reporter
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
