Last Updated on: 13th July 2023, 12:30 pm
By Mary Mwendwa
Nairobi, July 12, 2023: Adelaide Deda Abaidoo is a final year university student of Information Technology at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. She is committed to empowering young girls in her county to get their voices heard and fight early marriages which is rampant in Northern Ghana.
She says that her journey of hope started when she attended community empowerment groups which linked her to other organizations that champion women’s and girls’ rights in Ghana.
One of the organizations that have been instrumental in her life is Dellcom Charity Foundation which uses Radio mostly to teach and talk to young girls and women in the country.
“As a young woman I get to talk to young girls through many forums like radio stations and educate them that they need to stand up and get their voices heard in the fight against early marriages,” says Deda.
Abaidoo Deda is among several young women and girls who are attending the MaputoAt 20 celebrations in Nairobi, organized by the African Women Development and Communication Network, FEMNET. She travelled together with other participants from African countries like Sierra Leone, Niger, South Africa, Mali, and Tanzania, among others.
Abaidoo also runs a foundation. As an entrepreneur, she uses her foundation to educate and empower girls by supplying stationeries to help girls in rural schools in Ghana. She believes that fighting for girls’ education is the only way that early marriages can be avoided.
Her foundation is three years old and she believes she will do more for young girls and women as time goes by.
Also read: Why we need a multi-sectoral approach to implement Maputo Protocol
“When our girls get educated more, they will be thinking of pursuing their careers rather than being married off early before they attain their full potential in life.”
Abaidoo also works with CAMFED which champions women’s education in her country.
She is happy that she has been part of Maputo Protocol at 20 celebrations in Kenya where she has met and interacted with other young girls from the African continent.
“I never knew about Maputo Protocol, but through FEMNET I have learnt a lot and I am now aware of the rights of young girls and women that the framework is fighting for. This forum has been an eye-opener for me and I am glad that this is happening and giving women and young girls a voice.
“I am most grateful for this program, and I believe that more girls will be able to make their voices heard, and also get a chance to speak for others who may not be able to access various platforms,” she says.