The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the government and private stakeholders to prioritize policy enactments aimed at keeping girls in school and strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs in the educational sector.
UNICEF expressed concern over the entrenched sociocultural practices that continue to hinder women’s progress in society.
Despite efforts to address these challenges, the organization revealed that one out of six girls in Ghana get married before the age of 18.
Additionally, UNICEF lamented the rising cases of teenage pregnancies, which pose a significant threat to girls’ education and future prospects.
Speaking at the 2025 Women’s Dialogue as part of International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8, Deputy Representative of Operations at UNICEF, Anne Kariuki, outlined key recommendations to address these setbacks.
“When a girl is denied education, safety, and opportunities, the entire nation suffers. When the obstacles are significant, so are the solutions. The future of Ghana can be transformed through a steadfast commitment to investing in girls and young women.
“We must implement policies to keep girls in school, especially those at risk of dropping out due to pregnancy and economic hardship. We must promote robust systems and education programs for girls, challenging gender stereotypes in career choices. We must ensure a safe school environment, free from violence, harassment, and discrimination. Additionally, we must invest in technical and vocational education for young women and provide them with marketable skills.
“We must offer financial literacy programs and entrepreneurship support to foster self-reliance among women. We must also ensure equitable access to job opportunities, including in traditionally male-dominated industries.”
