Ms Anima Wilson, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minster, has said the campaign to end violence against women in society, must be stepped up.
Churches, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other civil society organizations need to intensify their education programmes to help people to appreciate the need to prevent the unhealthy practice.
Ms Wilson was speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on "Violence against Women and Gender Inequalities" in Kumasi on Thursday.
Organized by the Environmental Protection Association of Ghana (EPAG), an NGO, the workshop was attended by community leaders aimed at equipping participants with the relevant skills to adequately sensitize people in their communities to avoid the abuse of women and children.
The Deputy Minister reminded women that they could be empowered and achieve gender equity only when they acted together and with a strong voice.
She said women needed to become more assertive and let their views be heard on all critical issues affecting their well being and that of children.
Ms Wilson said the government through the Women and Children Affairs Ministry would work to protect and uphold international conventions, and protocols on women rights.
Mr John Kwadwo Owusu, Executive Secretary of EPAG, through the support of the African Women's Development Fund, have organized training workshops for "focal persons" in seven districts in the Ashanti Region.
These include Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ejisu-Juaben, Offinso, Asante-Akim North and South, Kwabre and Sekyere South Districts.
Mr Owusu said they had set up a revolving fund to assist unemployed women to acquire employable skills and become economically self-supporting
GNA
EKB/LQ
4 Nov. 10

NSOC 35
Social Practice Meditation
NGO advocates Transcendental Meditation in schools, prisons

Accra, Nov. 4, GNA - Global Union of Scientist for Peace Ghana, a non-governmental organisation on Thursday called on the government to introduce the practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) in the schools and prisons.
Dr Ashley Deans, Professor of Education and Physics, Maharishi School of Management in the US made the request at a workshop organised in Accra to promote the practice of TM said meditation helps to reduce stress, improve health and develop the total brain functioning in order to help people in their quest for greater self-knowledge.
He said the practice of TM would help provide skills in self- evaluation and self-development in order to help prisoners in their quest for greater self-knowledge.
Dr Deans said the practice would support prisoners in their search for higher values and meaning in life, regardless of their religious or personal beliefs.
"It's a technique to learn more about yourself and get more in touch with whoever you are," he added.
He explained that TM technique could reduce "prisoner recidivism", while concurrently developing psychological functioning, adding that crime is linked to stress-induced malfunctioning in the nervous system.
Dr Deans said the introduction of TM, as part of school curricular activities, would develop full brain potential of students thus increasing their Intelligent Quotient, improve academic performance and reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
He said the basic unit of creative and peaceful community could be attributed to the practice of TM.
"This helps in reducing tension during political seasons because it develops healthy, peaceful and creative individuals," he added.
Practitioners of TM say it is a simple, natural, effortless procedure practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.
"It is not a religion, philosophy or lifestyle. It's the most widely practiced, most researched and most effective method of self-development."
The technique allows the mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of contemplation and pure awareness, also known as transcendental consciousness, or the unified field.