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Groups mark Int’l Women’s Day

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana, has called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to work with other stakeholders to push for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law.

This according to the union would not only offer women a voice in national issues but would go a long way to empower them economically.

A statement issued and signed by the Secretary General of the union, Dr Yaw Baah, on the occasion of the celebration of the International Women’s Day said the world of work was changing and this had significant implications for women.

It said: “There is growing advancement of technology with globalisation bringing exceptional opportunities to those who can access them. But there is also the growing informality of work and income inequality and the overwhelming majority of women in Ghana find themselves in the informal economy with no social protection.”

From Tema, Dzifa Tetteh reports that the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana, commemorated this year’s International Women’s Day in Tema under the theme, ‘Balance for better’.

The Head of Gender and Youth Desk, Sister Christine Mercy Asante, called on employers to work at ensuring that women who qualified to be employed or promoted should not be compelled to have intimate relationship with their superiors “before they are given their due”.

She described such practices as violation of the human rights of women stressing, “It is heartbreaking to see how some women are being molested and abused by men in various forms in the home and at the workplace”.

The Second National Trustee for the ICU Ghana, Mrs Naomi Nartekie Nartey, described women as a strong pillar in society, and so should not look down on themselves.

A regional officer of Tema ICU,   Samuel Ananga, encouraged women not to allow their personal level barriers to inhibit their progress, but have a personal direction at all times and persevere, regardless of the challenge they face. 

In another development, the Abantu for Development in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana as part of this year’s International Women’s Day organised a forum for women’s groups to deliberate on the relevance of the day and its theme: ‘Think equal, build smart, innovative for change’.

Lawrence Markwei reports that, Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director of Abantu said the objective of the day was to express love and gratitude towards women’s contribution to lives and society, adding that it also honoured the power and struggle of women who have broken all barriers, and reached the pinnacle of success in every sphere of life.

Abeduwaa Lucy Appiah reports that STAR Ghana Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), celebrated the event with a discourse on the status of the Ghanaian woman.

Dr Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director of the MoGCSP, in a speech read for the sector minister, said although there had been significant improvements in the promotion of gender equality and women empowerments, women were still underrepresented in leadership, decision-making and the use of technology.

Prof Akua Kuenyehia, a former Dean of Law at the University of Ghana, said the growth and development of the country would be retarded without proper participation of women.

By Times Reporter

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