Message From the Executive Chairman
The challenges facing the world of the 21st Century are enormous and hydra-headed and this requires men and women of competence in the modern forms of governance to assume leadership in the various countries and communities.
It is observed that those countries that are leading in national development are those running knowledge-based economies and this has made the role of education even more relevant and indispensable in our present press-button society. A country that does not place premium on education of its citizens, especially the young ones, cannot expect to make progress in her national development. Formal education is, therefore, not negotiable and governments everywhere endeavour to provide their people with access to quality education.
But the hard fact is that governments alone cannot do this, making the collaboration of private sector and non-governmental agencies in the provision of education for the teeming youth of our time most essential.
Sankofa International, as a private developmental organization, appreciates the challenge low level education among the young people of Africa, especially in the rural areas and is determined to make a contribution, however small, towards making education accessible to the needy in society.
In prosecuting its mandate, Sankofa International places great emphasis on female education. We do so because we believe that the educated female has a greater potential to influence quality life which is the essence of development and the first two objectives of development relate to health and literacy. When the mother is better educated the greater the chances of infant survival and success of education.. As was observed in the World Bank Report (19991), “the educational status of adult women is by far the most important variable explaining changes in infant mortality and school enrolments”.
Today, the human species is made up of more females than males and yet the voice of the female in the decision-making process barely exists. This situation is a reflection of the low level of education among females in our world. What we do not realize that if we are to offer equal support for female education the outcome will inure to the benefit of all mankind.
In many places in Africa because of cultural bias, young girls are not offered opportunities to go to school and this is unkindest cut of all injustices. It is, however, heart-warming to observe that a new dawn is emerging; more and more parents are giving equal access to their children in education. In our part of Africa, Ghana, there is ample evidence to show that girls in High Schools are performing better even in the so-called difficult subjects.
We are already doing our best in Ghana and we seek partnership with all those who have concern for the low level of education among females, especially girls of school-going age. Any form of support is welcome. Sometimes a parents lack of money to buy a school uniform may prevent his daughter from obtaining education at the primary school level.
Let’s support female education.