Her speech described as very pertinent to the plight of girls in Africa eclipsed other presentations during the Bush Institute’s 2014 African First Ladies Summit dubbed “Investing in Our Future;” attended by First Ladies of over 35 African countries on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington last week.
Her presentation have been uploaded on the US Embassy social media page online to project the important views expressed by the First lady, however, her presentation has attracted unprovoked mockery from supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who quickly took to social media to divert attention from the substance of Mrs. Mahama’s presentation.
Sources close to the First Lady have described the ridicule aimed at her as ‘pure mischief’ to divert attention from the substance of her presentation.
The first lady, in her speech, challenged her colleague African First ladies to channel for more investment into policies that will ensure quality education and increased access for all children especially the girl child.
According to her, despite the proven benefits of women's education, in Africa, girls face enormous challenges in acquiring quality education, adding that these challenges are not limited only to enrolment, but progression, completion, poverty, accessibility, early marriage and pregnancy, and outdated cultural and religious practices. But also there is also the challenge of lack of a comprehensive and coherent project dedicated to girls’ enrolment in schools and retaining them there.
She stated that in line with the Ghana government’s policy of providing quality education for the children in the country, her NGO, The Lordina Foundation has instituted a scholarship programme to support brilliant but needy and deprived female students to further their education in Ghana and overseas. It is also working to secure funds for the establishment of dining halls, kitchens and teacher motivation programmes for the deprived communities across the country.
Mrs Lordina Mahama also revealed that the foundation is also facilitating a project to provide accommodation and educational facilities for residents of the Gambaga “witches” camp in the Northern Region and the Gambaga community. The facilities will provide vocational training to the inmates and their dependants.
The First Lady, who is the only African First Lady invited to speak at the symposium, called for public-private partnership to ensure quality education for girls in Africa.
Speaking at the same symposium, the First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs Michelle Obama, observed that “Until we prioritize our girls and understand that they are as important and their education is as important as the education of our sons, then we will have lots of work to do.”
The Bush Institute’s 2014 African First Ladies Summit brought together leaders from non-governmental organizations, private sector partners; faith-based and grassroots organizations; and other leading experts. It was organized by the Office of the First Lady, Michelle Obama, the George W. Bush Institute, and the U.S. Department of State.
A major highlight of the summit centred on the critical role first spouses play as advocates for women and girls and showcased success stories, best practices in public-private partnerships, and announcements of new initiatives and partnerships that will empower women’s roles in society and lead to improved outcomes for women and girls on the continent of Africa.
The First Lady was accompanied to the summit by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur.
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