The Cultural Counsellor of the Iranian Embassy in Accra, Mr Abass Ali Afsari has called on Muslim girls to take their educational pursuit seriously and strive for academic excellence.
This, he said, was necessary for them to make meaningful contribution to the socio-economic progress of society.
Mr Afsari made the call when he opened an eight-week workshop organised by the Embassy to draw public attention to the importance of girls'
education in Kumasi.
Students from selected senior and junior high schools and vocational institutions are attending the workshop.
Mr Afsari announced plans by the Embassy to start a sponsorship programme in 2010 for 25 female students from the Kumasi Metropolis, who excel in the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination to pursue tertiary education.
He urged parents not to rush their young daughters into early marriages, which he said was not healthy to their progress.
He drew attention to the growing negative influence of Western culture in Africa and said everything should be done to check the trend, which was leading to moral degeneration.
The Counsellor donated assorted books to the Khomeini Library at the Kumasi Central Mosque.