Girls’ education key to transforming families, building stronger communities — CAMFED Ghana

The Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana, Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian, has called for renewed national commitment to girls’ education, describing it as the key to unlocking potential, transforming families, and building stronger communities.

Speaking at the CAMFED Ghana 2025 Convening held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Business, Madam Safian shared compelling evidence of the life-changing impact of education on young women.

“When you educate a girl, her marriage is delayed, her children are healthier, and she becomes economically empowered,” she said, drawing applause from the audience of students, educators, and policymakers.

CAMFED Ghana, a leading organisation championing girls’ education and young women’s empowerment, currently supports 781 marginalised young women across public tertiary institutions in Ghana.

The support package includes tuition, accommodation, stipends, and other academic-related expenses—removing financial barriers that often derail the dreams of brilliant but underserved girls.

Madam Safian expressed concern about persistent challenges such as early marriage, lack of family support, and societal pressures that limit girls’ educational journeys. She emphasised the importance of engaging parents and communities to build understanding and support for the programme.

“When women are given the opportunity to learn, they nurture themselves and others. That’s how we build resilient families and communities,” she said.

The convening also featured a strong endorsement from the Ministry of Education, represented by Mr Frank Asiedu, Deputy Director of the Tertiary Directorate.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating early marriage and promoting girls’ education through collaborative efforts. He revealed that the Ministry was working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Gender and other stakeholders to create policies that support girl-child education and protect vulnerable girls from harmful practices.

“This is a collective effort,” he stressed. “Together, we can build a supportive environment where girls thrive and reach their full potential.”

From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi

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