Written by Arc. Adodo A. Adih‑Nuviadenu
On the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child, 11th October 2026, I pause to reflect on a journey that has spanned nearly three decades. As an architect, planner, and advocate, my professional path has been inseparable from the welfare of women and girls.
From my student thesis — later adopted and built by Zonta Clubs of Ghana as the country’s first shelter for abused women and children — to the design of Pearl Safe Haven, and design and renovation works for the Ark Foundation’s shelter in the Eastern Region, I have carried this mission at the heart of my practice.
It is important to note that the Ark Foundation’s shelter, established in 1999, was Ghana’s first battered women’s shelter — a converted house that has continued to shine as a touchstone for others to follow.
These projects were not just buildings; they were lifelines.
They were statements that survivors deserve dignity, protection, and hope. And yet, as the years pass, I see how much more still needs to be done.
I am proud to be a Zontian. Zonta gives me the energy to continue a journey I passionately love: the welfare of women and girls.
Tonight, as I sit quietly after the day’s bustle, staring at the flyer prepared by Zonta Clubs in Ghana, I am reminded how consistently I have circled back to this cause.
Amidst all my professional activities, this has remained my anchor. So tonight, I pen down a little of my journey in honour of the Girl Child.
I call upon all well‑meaning humans to celebrate and salute the hearts that continue to love the little ones, the mother’s womb and embrace — the first shelter ever known — and the hands that continue to protect them. I call on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to continue remembering the girl child and the boy child. Assistance can never be enough.
I salute all the good‑hearted people who work in this space, and the organizations that continue to support children’s welfare: Zonta International, The Ark Foundation, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Education Service, UN agencies, and many others.
Thank you, Ayekoo, akpe na mi.
Arc. Adodo A. Adih‑Nuviadenu
From my series: Shelter is Home
