Plan-Ghana, Japanese company promote girls education

Plan-Ghana, a child centered non-governmental organization, and UNIQLO, a garment producing company in Japan, have collaborated to promote girl-child education in the country.

To that end UNIQLO has committed $ 211, 000 to enable Plan-Ghana to embark on a project under the theme, “Promoting Girls’ education through soccer.”

Briefing newsmen at Akorkorma-Sissi in the Upper Manya Krobo District Mr Christopher Teye, Grants Coordinator for Plan-Ghana, said the Project would be in the form of a soccer tournament for girls’ football teams in the project areas for three years.

He said the aim of the project was to promote gender equality and to enhance the capacity of the girls in soccer, public speaking, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and leadership training.

Mr Teye added that the project was also to ensure that girls’ enrollment in schools increases and to well equip the girls to do sensitization in girl-child education.

“We are liaising with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to support us in the organisation of leagues for the girls’ teams and to also have the association help train coaches to train the girls to unearth their talents in soccer,” he added.

The project is currently in the Upper Manya Krobo and the Akuapem North districts where 10 community teams each had been formed to play the tournament until a winner is got.

That of the Upper Manya Krobo District saw the Asesewa community emerging the winner after they had beaten Batokope community on penalties.

Mr Jean-Emmanuel Shein, Corporate Social Responsibility Director for UNIQLO, expressed the company’s commitment to support the empowerment of girls to unearth their talents.