As part of the five-year anniversary of the Standard Chartered Bank Goal Project, the bank has promised to deepen the project to harness and develop the skills and talents of girls to become responsible citizens.

Through the GOAL project initiative, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana has improved the lives of nearly 10,000 girls and young women from low-income families and underprivileged communities in the nation.

According to its Chief Executive Officer, Mansa Nettey, the bank has put in place the necessary mechanisms to support young girls and the youth in deprived communities across the country to benefit from the initiative to bridge the gender inequality gap in societies.

“There are many women and girls that still face challenges, especially lack of education. And this is mainly due to cultural biases and gender-based violence, limiting their personal growth and economic freedom,” she said.

“We cannot over-emphasise the need for strategic action to empower and equip girls with basic knowledge that will enable them make the right choices regarding education, health and well-being, providing the necessary physical and psychological safety nets and other elements girls need to ultimately contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” She added.

Dr. Yaw Adutwum, the Minister of Education, speaking at the 5th-anniversary celebration ceremony  said gender parity had been achieved in Ghana's primary and junior high schools, and that senior high schools would follow suit by 2023.

“Go to every primary and junior high schools and select 200 students. Out of the 200, you’re going to see that 99 will be girls and 101 will be boys. If you enter the high schools, 92 out of 200 will be girls, so girls are getting the same opportunities as boys and that’s a great accomplishment”, he said

The GOAL project launched by Standard Chartered Bank Ghana in 2017, teaches girls critical knowledge and skills related to health, communication, rights and managing their personal finances through four key modules: Be Yourself, Be Healthy, Be Empowered and Be Money Savvy.