International Women’s Day is a day set aside globally on March 8, each year, to commemorate the socio-economic and political achievements of women.

Mrs Otiko Afisah Djaba, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), who made the call in Accra on Wednesday, said empowering women would bring about extensive accelerated development.

“It is our birth right, we nurture children, educate them and also help to build the homes effectively and so we cannot be left out in this area,” she said. She, therefore, called for action by all policy makers and stakeholders to make practical and actual the global theme for this year’s celebration which is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.”

Speaking on the theme: “Economic Empowerment of Rural Women: A Tool for Sustainable Development in a Changing World of Work” selected to mark the day in Ghana, Mrs Afisah Djaba said the day would be used to draw the world’s attention to areas requiring further action and accelerated gender parity.

She said the theme was chosen to demonstrate the Ministry’s and government’s commitment to help rural women and girls to achieve their ambitions and challenge the negative traditional and socio-cultural practices.

Gender balanced leadership calls on governments to value every woman and man’s contribution equally and create inclusive flexible cultures in line with the focus of the international community, she added. Mrs Djaba said doing this called for concrete actions that raised awareness about the invaluable contributions of all women and girls, particularly rural women and girls in Ghana.

She mentioned socio-economic hardship such as insecure and unhealthy working environments, snake and scorpion bites, poverty, lack of formal education, violence and abuse and lack of credit facilities and technological advancement to improve businesses as some of the plights rural women faced.  

Admitting that there had been considerable improvement in Ghana in the quest for gender equality and equity, Mrs Djaba, however, noted that there were still complex issues of male dominance and patriarchy that needed to be addressed to step up a collective effort toward achieving “Planet 50-50 by 2030”.

She said in Ghana, the International Women’s Day celebration had been preceded with a debate on the Topic: “Women are Engine for Accelerated Development” by students of Accra Academy and Accra Girls Senior High schools.

She said the celebration would be climaxed with a grand durbar at Prestea Huni Valley in the Western Region with series of activities outlined by the ministry in all the other regions. Reverend Dr Comfort Asare, the Director of the Department of Gender at MoGCSP, said community dialogue, radio and television discussions, engaging more with women groups, health and cleaning exercise were among the activities slated for the celebration.

Madam Freda Prempeh, the Member of Parliament for Tano North, urged the sector minister to help in the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill.  Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, encouraged women to be bold and courageous to fight for Ghana and not belittle their efforts.

Madam Barbara Asher Ayisi, the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North, urged parents to look out for the talents and skills endowed in their children and help develop those talents to their future benefits.

As part of the launch, certificates and awards were presented to the students of Accra Academy and Accra Girls Senior High schools for participating in the debate.