The African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), in collaboration with Network for Women’s Rights (NETRIGHT) has held a technical concentration meeting on gender equality and its effects on Ghana’s economy and political transformation.
- Y. Amoako, President and founder of ACET, speaking at the event in Accra said the technical meeting falls under his outfit ‘Ghana Compact’ project which seeks to identify and address key challenges pertaining to the country’s future.
To ensure sustainable development, he noted that more still needs to be done to ensure that majority of women do not end up in extreme poverty in Ghana and across Africa: “Research in Kenya proved that women in agriculture when given 1 percent more resources enhance productivity by 25 percent.”
This, Mr. Amoako noted, shows that if women are empowered with better education and opportunities, they can enhance national productivity significantly.
Explaining why the country should prioritise women development, he revealed that thorough assessment of gender equality on the continent indicates that Ghana is behind in the area of women in leadership compare to other African countries.
Akosua Darkwah, convener, NETRIGHT Steering Committee, encouraged women to avail themselves at important decision-making tables and ensure they contribute to decision making.
“What we want is not go on international platforms and say we have passed this bill or have this act, what we need is translating that into reality for change on the ground for our women,” she advocated.
She also noted that the practice where school prefect position is reserved for male and the deputy for female should be discouraged.
Otiko Afisah Djaba, Executive Director for Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation and a former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, encouraged women to be agents of change toward addressing gender inequalities.
Mrs. Djaba said her dream is to see more young women, regardless of their physical abilities, get into politics, right from the district assembly level to the very top.
“Women are not treated as equals when it comes to gender. We think that the men are superior to them right from childhood. It is critical that we understand that women are as important as men. Early socialisation is something that should be encouraged and drawn in with awareness creation in all homes,” she added.
The World Economic Forum in 2022 indicated that the global gender gap has been closed by 68.1 percent, therefore at this current rate, it will take 132 years to reach full parity.
