Accra-Ghana, Nov. 09, GNA – Ghana, Wednesday, joined 30 countries to officially launch its Chapter of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), a driver of women’s leadership towards sustainable development and peace.
The Network, launched in Accra on the theme: “Achieving Gender Equality and Inclusion for the Africa We Want”, has six key pillars comprising – governance and political participation, peace and security, finance and women’s entrepreneurship, youth leadership, agriculture and social mobilisation.
The Network has an aim of shifting the paradigm of women having low representation in Ghana’s Parliament.
Currently, the Legislature has 40 out of 275 Members as women, representing 14.5 per cent and a representation of five per cent at the district level.
Dr Charity Binka, the Chairperson, Interim Steering Committee, AWLN Ghana Chapter, said when women thrived, the entire society and succeeding generations benefitted from it.
“Women need to sit at the table of decision making and if this is not possible, we need to create our own table. The time has come for women in Ghana to be seen and heard at all levels,” she said.
Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, Minister Designate of Gender, Children and Social Protection, who launched the Network, said women were lagging behind in peace and security, economic and political participation.
The Ministry was, therefore, ready to fully embrace and support AWLN to achieve its objectives, she said.
Hajia Abudu lauded the Network for prioritising economic inclusion among its pillars, saying economic empowerment was key to achieving gender equality and propelling national growth.
The Minister Designate entreated the Network to engage in inter-sectorial and intergenerational dialogues, which played civil society organisations as an important stakeholder to unearth discriminations against women and girls for the promotion of gender inclusion and equality.
To bridge the decision making gap in Ghana’s decision making processes, Hajia Abudu encouraged many women to venture into politics at the district, regional and national levels and appealed to Queen Mothers and female Chiefs to support women who stood up to express interest and preparedness to participate in politics in their localities.
Mr Charles Abaani, the UN Resident Coordinator, said promoting women’s participation in decision making processes and leadership positions was a topmost priority of the UN as it was reflective of the UN Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063.
Moreover, she said promoting the participation of women in peace protection and humanitarian processes was crucial.
Mr Abaani, who complained about the low representation of women in Parliament and at the district level, said unfortunately the 2021 Board Index Report indicated that women were highly less represented on the Boards of the Ghana Stock Exchange, a situation that was worrying.
“During peace keeping time, women contribute to building the foundation but bear the hardest consequences of conflicts. Women need to be highly recognised for their roles in conflict management and national development,” he added.
Ms Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said climate change had undermined and internally displaced women and girls together with other minority groups.
It had also exposed them to sexual and gender-based violence among other inhuman treatments, she said.
She admonished the Network to ensure that discriminatory actions and policies against women regarding leadership at the grassroot levels and political positions were eliminated.
“The next electoral cycle in Ghana offers opportunity for the Network to promote equal opportunities for men and women to exercise their franchise and contest national and regional positions,” she added.
