Appeals court Judge urges girls to speak out

An Appeals Court Judge, Justice Mrs Avril Lovelace-Johnson is advocating stronger voice for young women as a strategy to deepen greater public consciousness about the plight of the girl-child.

Justice Lovelace-Johnson is also urging young women to speak out against obstacles inhibiting their growth and development.

She was addressing the opening ceremony of the Juliette Low Seminar (JLS 2016), an international leadership development program of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS) in Accra on Monday.

The JLS 2016, the 41st edition since in 1932 is being hosted in Africa for the first time and it is being attended by 58 Girl Guides from 50 countries around the world.

The week-long training seminar is being hosted by the Ghana Girl Guides Association (GGGA). Justice Lovelace-Johnson who represented Ghana’s Chief Justice Georgina Wood commended the Girls Guide movement for various strides made to improve the lot of the girl-child and womanhood.

The Deputy Minister for Children, Gender and Social Protection, Mrs Dela Sowah said the social movement agenda of the Girl Guides movement have helped caused significant transformation to many young girls, making them women of substance and value in various fields of endeavour.

She said government through her ministry was doing a lot to ensure the girl-child lives fulfilled life.

A member of the Governing Board of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Ana-Maria Mideros said bringing the prestigious JLS to Africa and Ghana in particular amplifies Ghana’s monumental contribution to the global Girl Guides movement “which has been the pillar of successes for many women world-wide”.

She commended the Ghana Girl Guides Association for advocating for the vulnerable girls in Ghana.

Both the Chief Commissioner of the Ghana Girl Guides Association, Mrs Juliana Ofori-Kissi and the President of the Association, Mrs Ruth Amissah renewed the commitment of the association to the ideals of the girls’ organisation which has been in Ghana since 1921.