She said obstacles were inevitable in human life and so women must be resolute in their forward march and believe in what they do to attain their goals.

Speaking in a virtual dialogue on the topic: “Women Transforming Africa: A Conversation on Power, Policy and Inclusion” held by the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), the Vice President said women needed to understand that there would be competition in every sphere of their lives – be it healthy competition or not.

“As for the obstacles, they will come in many forms, but it is about how you navigate it. You have to believe in what you want to do. We must also pay attention to gaps within sectors to address them and as women, let’s pull each other up,” the Vice President said.

She said the onus lied on all women especially those in positions and resourceful women to help imbibe into the younger generation the “can do spirit” and change the narrative that women were weaker vessels.

Sharing her childhood experience, the Vice President said she grew up from a family and society where girls never gave up and were allowed to thrive.

“I grew up in a home where there was nothing like what boys could do, girls could not do it. I went to a girls’ school where girls did Physics, Mathematics and others and they did well. Even in the lecture theater in my university days, we never succumbed to the domineering voices of the men,” she said.

She also urged women to always engage men in dialogue, sit them down and explain issues to their understanding instead of arguing with them and confronting them in a hostile manner.

The Vice President said President John Dramani Mahama and his government had made women empowerment an integral part his policies and governance and called for support to advance the cause of women.

Madam Mavis Owusu-Gyemfi, President and Chief Executive Officer, ACET, in a discussion with some astute women on the continent, noted that gender equality could be realised if gender equality policies work hand-in-hand with economic policies.

“Our gender equality policies cannot sit idle anywhere and not be mainstreamed into economic policies and transformation. You cannot develop if you do not make gender policies economic issues. There are not enough women at the decision-making table,” she said.