JSA Boys Mentorship, led by its founding director Ethel Adjorlolo-Marfo, has paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The visit was hosted by the Honourable Minister, Agnes Momo Lartey, along with chief directors at the Ministry’s headquarters in Accra.
The delegation from JSA Boys Mentorship visited with three key objectives:
- To introduce the Ministry to JSA Boys Mentorship’s decade-long work initiated in 2015 to support the positive development of boys in Ghana through programs focused on leadership, mental health, personal development, and countering the effects of father absence.
- To observe a collaborative commemoration of the World Day of the Boy Child (WDBC) on May 16, 2025, under the theme “Building Self-Esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen.” The theme aims to spotlight the unique challenges boys face and celebrate their achievements.
- To officially invite the Ministry to JSA Boys Mentorship’s 10th Anniversary Mentorship Summit & Contest, scheduled for September 20, 2025, in Accra.
As part of activities leading up to the WDBC celebration, JSA Boys Mentorship convened a select group of student leaders from four schools to participate in an open forum at the Ministry.
The participants included: Christ The King Int. School Cantonments – Accra. : Cecil Cosmas-Gonzalves and Omanye Koney; Mary Mother of Good Counsel School: Papa Gyasi Banful-Quaicoe and Emmanuel Asenso-Mensah Jnr. ; Soul Clinic School: Mael Martey Korley, Machi N. Oduah, Nii Tetteh Aryee, and Perez Amon Smith Asante @soull clinic International; and Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC): Jeremiah Komla Mawunyo, also a JSA Boys Mentorship Ambassador.
During the forum, the boys voiced out pressing concerns regarding the limited mentorship opportunities, alarming school drop out rate among high school boys and inadequate mental health support available to boys in schools.
They also called for more equitable disciplinary practices between boys and girls, as well as the enforcement of policies that hold fathers accountable not only for financial support but also for emotional and moral guidance.
Speaking during the engagement, JSA’s Ambassador, Jeremiah Komla Mawunyo, highlighted the importance of recognizing boys’ unique struggles and called for more inclusive approaches to child development.
In her remarks, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey commended the initiative of JSA Boys Mentorship and applauded the boys for their valuable recommendations during tje forum.
She expressed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote the welfare of both boys and girls. She emphasised the Ministry’s ongoing mentorship and empowerment programmes and assured the group of continued partnership in advancing gender equality and youth development.
Present at the meeting were the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, and the Director of the Department of Gender, Madam Faustina Acheampong, who both reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for such meaningful engagements.
The visit also featured a presentation of an advocacy petition and a renewed call on parents to play more active roles in the upbringing of their sons.
About World Day of the Boy Child
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh to recognize the unique challenges faced by boys and to celebrate their contributions, the World Day of the Boy Child is observed annually on May 16. It advocates for the healthy development of boys, emphasizing issues such as education, self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, and positive masculinity.
About JSA Boys Mentorship
Established in 2015, JSA Boys Mentorship is a pioneering Ghanaian initiative committed to equipping boys with the tools to become emotionally empowered, responsible, and positively masculine men. Through mentorship programs, school clubs, leadership forums, and mental wellness advocacy, the organization has impacted thousands of boys across Ghana and beyond.
