The chiefs and people of the Mamprugu Moagduri District in the North East Region have bid an emotional farewell to AfriKids Ghana, celebrating the life-changing impact of its One Million Smiles (OMS) Programme, which has transformed education, child protection and livelihoods across the district over the past four years.
The colourful farewell durbars, held across various communities in the district, brought together traditional authorities, government officials, School Management Committees, Parent-Teacher Associations, teachers, parents, children and community members to celebrate the programme’s achievements and reaffirm their commitment to sustaining its gains.
The One Million Smiles Programme, AfriKids’ flagship integrated intervention in education, health and child protection, was implemented between 2022 and 2026 in the Mamprugu Moagduri, Builsa South and Binduri districts to ensure that every child is safe, healthy and in school.
Speakers at the ceremony emphasised the programme’s significant impact, citing increased school enrolment and attendance, a sharp reduction in child and forced marriages, improved livelihoods for women and enhanced educational opportunities, particularly for girls.
Communities also praised the programme’s contribution to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, noting that Kunkwa alone now has more than 21 former STEM Girls pursuing science programmes at the senior high school level, compared to very few before the intervention.
Addressing participants, AfriKids District Manager, Matthew Abagna, reflected on the successful partnership between the organisation and the people of Mamprugu Moagduri since 2022.
He commended traditional authorities, community structures, government agencies and development partners for their collaboration, describing their collective efforts as key to the programme’s success.
As part of the exit process, AfriKids formally handed over major programme interventions, including STEM education resources, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) initiatives, library materials, Community Child Protection Committees and learning tablets to the Ghana Education Service, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, the Ghana Health Service and beneficiary communities to ensure sustainability.
Representatives of the Ghana Education Service and the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development pledged to preserve the interventions and continue protecting children and promoting quality education.
The Chief of Kunkwa, Naa Yidana Yakubu, praised AfriKids for helping to reduce child and forced marriages while improving access to education for girls.
“My people and I hold dearly the work AfriKids has done in this community. We will ensure that many more young girls continue their education, and child and forced marriage will become a thing of the past in this community,” he pledged.
The Chief of Loagri No. 1, Naa Bature Sulemana, said the programme had changed the narrative for girls in the area.
He recalled that child marriage, teenage pregnancy and kayayei had previously deprived many girls of education, but today many are staying in school and excelling academically, leading to the establishment of an additional school to accommodate the growing enrolment.
A community champion from Katigri, Robert Anintemi, also shared an emotional testimony, saying many girls who would otherwise have dropped out of school are now pursuing senior high school education because of AfriKids’ intervention.
He cited Monica and Erica as examples of beneficiaries whose educational dreams have been made possible through the programme.
The farewell durbars ended with renewed commitments from traditional leaders, community members and state institutions to sustain the achievements of the One Million Smiles Programme and continue working to ensure every child enjoys a safe, healthy and quality education.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|
