Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC has organised a Girl’s Summit to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.

This summit is to inspire, energise and empower young girls between the ages of 14 and 18 to become future leaders.

About 100 girls from five schools including Accra Girl Senior High School (SHS) Mamfe Girls SHS and Accra High SHS were inspired by young women who have achieved great feats in their professions.

The speakers include Squadron Leader Ama Serwah of the Ghana Airforce, Naa Okailey Adamafio-Manteau, Country Manager of Denk Pharma, Alice Mensah, a Digital Marketer and Martha Ama Ofoli, a Petroleum Geologist and Nana Afua Serwaa Adusei, an auto technician and STEM advocate.

These speakers were unanimous in their call on young girls not to let their gender stop them from pursuing careers dominated by men.

Three entrepreneurs who are winners of the Standard Chartered Women in Technology Incubator programme also shared their grass-to-grace journey to inspire young girls.

They thanked Standard Chartered, organisers of the event for championing the rights and welfare of girls in Ghana.

Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing at Standard Chartered, Asiedua Addae said their aim is to inspire young girls, mentor them and ensure that they can also reach their full potential.

“It is a day for young achievers to inspire young girls, mentor them and ensure that they can also reach their full potential,” she stated.

Asiedua Addae said the initiative is part of the bank’s community engagement initiative ‘Futuremakers’, which seeks to empower the youth especially girls and women to learn, earn and grow. It aims to empower young people with education, employability and entrepreneurship opportunities.

On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl-Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face across the world.

The Day focuses on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the realisation of their human rights.

The global theme for this year's celebration is: "The Importance of Investing in Girls' Rights for Societal Progress."