Kayayei under mentorship programme advised to remain focused

Mrs Susana Eduful, a Circuit Court Judge has advised Kayayei (Female Head Potters) under the Chief Justice's Mentorship Programme to remain focused in their endevours. She said this would help them to be responsible and useful citizens who would contribute their quota to nation building. Mrs Eduful gave the advice at a moot rehearsal for the inauguration of the Justice Clubs at a Circuit Court in Accra, which formed part of the Chief Justice Mentorship Programme, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP). The UNFPA which is the UNs Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency and PAYDP, a Non-Governmental Organisation are implementing the Global Programme to Ending Child Marriage in Ghana programme. In 2007, the former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood launched the Chief Justice Mentorship Programme, to inspire and educate the youth about the judiciary and legal profession in Ghana. The Chief Justice's Justice Club (CJJC) is designed for vul nerable out-of-school girls, particularly Kayayei, offering them the chance to engage with legal leaders and build their confidence and knowledge. Mrs Eduful encouraged beneficiaries of the programme to be confident, aspire for more, rather than being content as Kayayei. 'We want women to take key roles in society, so our main aim is to ensure that they do not remain as Kayayei but to come out and play their roles,' she stated. The Judge said the girls were groomed to be able to take up key roles in the society. Mrs Eduful said through the mentorship programme, some of the girls were empowered to return to school even to the tertiary level. Justice Abena Asuamah Oppong, a Justice of the High Court, explained that annually, students from various second cycle institutions visit the courts in Accra, to interact with judges, legal professionals and experience court proceedings at firsthand. She said the current Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, had extended the programme to include the c reation of Justice clubs led by various judges. Justice Oppong said they met more frequently to educate the adolescent girls on the Constitution of Ghana, the Justice system and mentor them to become what they aspired to be. Reverend Aku Xornam Adzraku-Kevi, the Executive Director, PAYDP, said the achievements of the mentorship programme was a 'powerful' example of how good guidance and education could transform lives and strengthen the fabric of the society. She said through the initiative, the young women were empowered to pursue further education, livelihood empowerment skills, sexual and reproductive health education and other initiatives to improve their lives, creating positive changes for themselves and their communities. 'Presently, we have some of the girls in male-dominated fields as painters, tilers, and casting of Plaster of Paris (POP),' while others had gone back to school, Rev. Adzraku-Kevi added. She also announced that in November this year, there would be a career Business and Leadershi p Fair in Bolgatanga for the beneficiaries to exhibit their products. '… So, it is a continuous process, and we believe that one day at a time, we will keep seeing transformation in the lives of these girls,' she stated. The mentor judges later toured the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum with the girls to learn more about Ghana's history. Miss Jennifer Mankuzaisi Mumuni, the President of the Justice Club, commended the judges and the implementing partners for their support. She said through the Programme she was able to return to the Senior High School to graduate and had currently bought an admission form from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, aspiring to become a journalist. Miss Mumuni said she was motivated and empowered by great journalists she saw on the television and urged her colleagues to join the clubs to positively change their lives. Source: Ghana News Agency