By Kantam Juicy,Seli Baisie

Copyright gbcghanaonline

By Kantam Juicy

Patriarchy remains deeply entrenched in many rural communities in northern Ghana, where cultural norms often assign men greater power and relegate women to subordinate roles. This imbalance significantly affects girls’ education, as traditional practices prioritise boys’ schooling over girls’ due to perceptions of domestic roles and limited resources. These cultural barriers create obstacles for girls seeking leadership positions, reinforcing gender stereotypes and limiting opportunities through biased curricula, teacher expectations and community norms.

However, this reality is gradually changing as mentorship programmes empower more girls to recognise their potential, build confidence and challenge gender stereotypes.

In a landmark event highlighting this shift, Wulugu Senior High School in the West Mamprusi Municipality ended a 34-year tradition of male leadership. In a historic election last year, 18-year-old Osman Sherifatu from the Bunkpurugu District became the first female senior prefect after the school abolished separate boys’ and girls’ prefect positions in 2024.

“It is not all higher positions that are exclusive to men, and this shows that girls can also hold such roles,” Sherifatu said. “Being in this position boosted my confidence and motivated me to mentor my colleagues and juniors. I encouraged them to pursue their dreams and see leadership roles as opportunities they can achieve.”

Through the She LEADS Project, a mentorship programme implemented in the school, Sherifatu gained the confidence and skills to challenge traditional gender expectations. Despite societal pressures that often limit girls’ ambitions, the project provided her with guidance and support to thrive. Having completed her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) after studying Home Science, Sherifatu now aspires to become a lawyer.

The She LEADS Programme, facilitated by Plan International Ghana and its partners, aims to increase the sustained influence of girls and young women in decision-making and transform negative gender norms. Running from 2021 to 2025 in the East and West Mamprusi municipalities of the North East Region, the five-year initiative provides mentorship opportunities and equips girls to lead change in their communities.

The programme supports more than 30 girls each at Wulugu Senior High School and Walewale Technical Institute, and over 7,000 girls and young women across the North East and Upper West Regions.

One such beneficiary is 20-year-old Felicia Wusah Bavug from the North Gonja District, who became the first female assistant prefect at Walewale Technical Institute. Despite facing discouragement from some classmates, Felicia persevered and contested for the senior prefect position.

“When I joined the She LEADS programme, I realised girls could also lead,” she said. “I almost withdrew from the race, but the mentorship encouraged me to keep going. Although I didn’t become the senior prefect, I was elected first assistant prefect, and that motivated others to follow.”

Felicia, who plans to pursue Information Technology at Tamale Technical University after studying Computer Hardware and Technology, hopes to join the security services.

Giving girls opportunities to hold leadership roles in schools helps build confidence, fosters decision-making skills and promotes gender equality in school governance. Matilda Rubabatu, a 31-year-old programme alumna, credits She LEADS with helping her secure employment with Songtaba, an NGO in Tamale, where she now manages over 200 girls across six clubs.

“When you are empowered, you can speak confidently and make decisions for yourself,” she said. “I urge parents to support their daughters beyond domestic roles and encourage them to participate in decision-making.”

Research by Right to Play Ghana shows that mentorship is enabling more girls to develop leadership skills and pursue positions in school. Empowered girls are more likely to continue their education and contribute to national development.

In communities where gender disparities remain prevalent, mentorship offers a critical pathway for girls to envision themselves as leaders. Its impact is transformative — boosting confidence, enhancing leadership skills and fostering a stronger sense of agency among young women.