Education Plus Initiative: UN Resident Coordinator calls for stronger support for girls

The UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Zia Choudhury, has urged stronger, sustained national action to safeguard the education and health of girls.

He made the remarks on Wednesday, 10th December 2025, during an event in Accra where the Education Plus Initiative was launched.

Addressing stakeholders at La Palm Beach, Mr. Choudhury noted that education and health cannot be treated as isolated sectors, stressing that both form “the bedrock of opportunities for girls.”

He referenced Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak’s own educational journey, describing it as a transformative example of how access to schooling can change the trajectory of families.

He said, “We all know that education and health are not separate pillars of development but rather they form the bedrock of opportunities for girls and the Deputy Minister was talking about how important education was to his family.”

He emphasised that despite progress, the realities facing adolescent girls across the region remain urgent.

“Across sub-Saharan Africa and in Ghana, girls continue to face disproportionate risks. They remain three times more likely to acquire HIV than their male peers. I think it is important to understand why that is beyond the statistics. This reflects deep structural inequalities,” he stated.

Mr. Choudhury explained that the Education Plus roadmap provides a clear opportunity for Ghana to address the interconnected pressures that limit the prospects of girls, including economic hardship, violence and lack of support systems.

“The roadmap offers us an opportunity in order to address multiple social and economic vulnerabilities that push girls out of school including poverty and gender-based violence, financial challenges and the absence of support for victims of violence,” he said.

He maintained that sustained collaboration between government institutions, communities and development partners is essential if the initiative is to achieve its full impact.

“By addressing these barriers consistently and collaboratively, Ghana can make meaningful progress in closing the gap in education, strengthen health outcomes and advance national development priorities,” he added.

Mr. Choudhury assured that the United Nations system in Ghana remains committed to working closely with all partners to achieve the goals of the initiative, reaffirming the UN’s long-standing support for national efforts aimed at promoting equality, protecting vulnerable groups and expanding opportunities for girls.

The Education Plus Initiative, running from 2021 to 2025, is a global and sub-Saharan Africa programme jointly led by UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women.

It is designed to strengthen opportunities for adolescent girls and young women by ensuring they have the support needed to stay in school and complete quality secondary education.

The initiative has been adopted by several African countries, including Ghana, as part of broader efforts to address persistent barriers facing girls across the region.