Mrs Jocelyn Adii, the Bono Regional Director of the Department of Gender has urged girls to be bold and report teachers who tried to abuse them sexually to the school authorities.

She said the growing trend of sexual abuses and exploitation, particularly among girls in Senior High Schools, was condemnable and called for concerted and decisive approaches to stem the practice, and thereby create a safe haven for girls to learn.

Mrs Adii called for active stakeholder collaboration to tackle the barriers inimical to the holistic growth and development of girls.

She gave the advice when speaking in an interview with Sompa FM in Sunyani on the sidelines of a girl's forum to mark the International Girl Child Week Celebration on the theme: "Raising confident girls for tomorrow's leadership."

Mrs Adii noted though vulnerable, girls had huge potential saying abusing them sexually was not only affront to their fundamental human rights and dignity, but also denied them the opportunity to build on their potential.

She condemned the nudity which had taken the social media space, exposing and influencing innocent girls to sexual promiscuity.

Miss Princella Dzidzor, a Programmes Officer at the Bono Regional Office of the NYA later told the GNA that the Authority remained committed to empowering girls to take leadership positions.

Sompaonline.com/K.Peprah