In a symbolic show of girl leadership and empowerment, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, in collaboration with Plan International Ghana, has launched the 2025 edition of The Girl Takeover to mark the International Day of the Girl.

Held under the theme “Let me be a child, not a wife; Girls’ Experience of Living through Child Marriage,” the initiative aims to amplify girls’ voices, promote leadership among young women, and draw attention to harmful practices such as child marriage.

As part of this year’s celebration, 15-year-old Beatrice Laari Dammigu, Speaker of the West Mamprusi Children’s Parliament in the North East Region, symbolically took over as Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment in Hon. Opare-Addo’s office in Accra.

The initiative offered young Beatrice a platform to experience leadership firsthand, and to engage government officials on challenges affecting girls across the country.

When she arrived at the Ministry, she was officially welcomed by the Minister’s secretary and taken through the operations of the Ministry’s five key agencies, including the National Youth Authority, Youth Employment Agency, National Service Authority, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, and the Scholarship Secretariat.

Hon. Opare-Addo described the Girl Takeover initiative as a model for nurturing young leaders.

“This is what leadership is all about, where you groom young people, give them the opportunity to lead, and make them feel part of the process,” he stated.

During her session, Beatrice shared some of the pressing issues affecting young people, especially girls, in her municipality.

“Child labour, teen pregnancy, and drug abuse are major problems in my community,” she explained.

“Some families still think child marriage is a tradition, so they marry off their young girls. If there would be more sensitization and education, it would help reduce it,” she continued.

She also appealed for support to improve educational opportunities for girls in her area.

“I attend a girls’ school, and it’s the only one in my municipality, but we are housed by another school. If the Ministry could get the Ghana Education Service to help build a proper school, more girls could be enrolled and trained to become leaders,” she noted.

In response, Hon. Opare-Addo promised to present her concerns to President John Dramani Mahama.

“We are trying to reach out as much as we can. We will take Walewale as a special case because of the passionate appeal you have made,” he assured.

The Minister later told journalists that the initiative aligns perfectly with the Ministry’s goals of youth inclusion and gender equality.

“Almost every policy implemented through this Ministry ensures at least 50 percent women’s participation,” he indicated.

“If we are not intentional about empowering women, we will leave too many behind. Ghana now has its first female Vice-President, and that should inspire us to open more doors for young girls to climb the leadership ladder,” he added.

He added that the Ministry remains committed to supporting programs that encourage girls to lead, learn, and thrive in society.

Miss Beatrice later met with the CEO of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Osman Abdulai Ayariga, to discuss youth empowerment, ending child marriage, and drug abuse prevention.

Mr. Ayariga explained that the Authority is working with pharmaceutical bodies and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to tackle substance abuse among the youth.

“Legally sold drugs are being abused. Instead of being used under prescription, they are misused to get high. We are staying in touch with pharmaceutical groups and the FDA to ensure regulations are enforced. Beyond that, we are intensifying advocacy and rehabilitation through our Youth Resource Centres across all regions,” he revealed.

Miss Beatrice’s meeting with the National Youth Authority marked the conclusion of Plan International Ghana’s Girl Takeoverinitiative, a reminder that when given the right platform, every girl has the potential to lead and drive change.