The Department of Gender, under the auspices of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) with funding support from the UNFPA organised a one-day “Gender Equality Males’ School for 32 adolescent boys from basic and senior high schools, 16 selected men and 4 school-based facilitators on Tuesday, 16th August 2022 at the GNAT Hall in Ho.

The programme was to train men and boys as champions and change-makers on issues of gender equality, women empowerment, healthy masculinities and prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Adolescent Pregnancy. It was also aimed at providing life skills, educational and career guidance to the young boys.

Participants were selected from six districts, namely South Dayi, North Dayi, Akatsi North, Afadzato South, Central Tongu and Ho Municipal. The participants who were men comprises religious leaders, leaders of “Okada” riders, SRC Presidents from some Universities within the Region, Leaders of various Youth Associations from the selected districts. They were trained on the following topics:

  1. Concepts of Gender, Gender Equality and toxic masculinity,
  2. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, including Changes in adolescents and STIs,
  3. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV),
  4. Rights of children and parental responsibilities,
  5. Good grooming and personal hygiene,
  6. Advocacy skills for ASRHR, and
  7. Educational and career guidance for adolescents.

The training on the above topics were facilitated by Mrs. Thywill Eyra Kpe, Regional Director of the Department of Gender; Mr. Israel Akrorbortu, Regional Director of the Department of Children; Madam Millicent Dakeh, the Regional Girls Education Officer; Mr. Gideon Tsawodzi,  Regional Guidance and Counseling Coordinator from the Ghana Education Service, and the representatives from the Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Health Service.

The theme for the programme was “Accelerating Action for Gender Equality and Prevention of SGBV: The Role of Men and Boys.”