Illuminating Darkness: The Crucial Role of Literacy in Amma Darko’s Faceless

English

This study investigates the role of literacy as a crucial instrument for empowering the girl-child, contributing to sustainable development within the family and the broader community. Literacy, defined as the ability to read and write, is generally attained through formal education. Education serves as a valuable investment; when effectively harnessed, it has the potential to empower, liberate, and embolden individuals. Conversely, a lack of education leaves individuals vulnerable to exploitation, oppression, ignorance, and poverty. Utilizing Amma Darko’s novel Faceless, this study reveals that an uneducated girl-child faces significant risks of poverty and prostitution. However, the efforts of an educated group of women known as MUTE bring hope and a promising future to these vulnerable girls. By employing feminist theory, which champions the liberation and self-determination of women from ignorance, oppression, and exploitation, this paper concludes that the rehabilitation of street-involved girl-children by literate women allows them to become providers for their families. This, in turn, promotes economic development and helps decrease the rate of petty crime prevalent among youth due to illiteracy.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.