On International Women’s Day, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reiterated that empowering women is not just a woman’s mission, but a national imperative.
The Vice President in a video message to mark the Day said: “When women thrive, families, communities, nations prosper. Let us accelerate action for our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, and for the future of our great nation”.
“A happy International Women’s Day to all of us. Let us continue to accelerate action.”
The Vice President reiterated that, “International Women’s Day is our day. Women of Ghana, International Women’s Day is our day.”
This year, it is being organized on the theme Accelerate Action.
“We do not only recognize the profound contributions of women in every sphere of society, but we also affirm our commitment to breaking the barriers that have long hindered our full participation in the nation’s progress,” she said.
“Ghanaian women are the backbone of our families, communities, and economy, of course. Whether in our archives, in the boardrooms, classrooms, farmlands, or on the beaches, women continue to drive innovation, nurture growth, and shape the future of our country.”
Vice President Prof Opoku-Agyemang said women’s contributions to business, to governance, education, healthcare, and the sciences were invulnerable.
“And as a nation, we owe it to ourselves to create an ecosystem where everyone can thrive without enforced limitations.”
The Vice President said over the years, Ghanaians had made significant strides in advancing gender equality and empowering women.
She said under the current leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the Government had taken bold steps and remained dedicated to ensuring that women had the opportunities, resources, and the support to excel.
She mentioned that some of the key initiatives include the establishment of the Women’s Development Fund to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs, ensuring that women had the capital and other forms of support to take action, expand their businesses.
Others are affirmative actions to increase the representation of women in leadership and governance, paving the way for more women to take their rightful places at decision-making tables.
The Vice President said these ideas marked progress, but Ghanaians know that the journey towards full equality was far from over.
She said women still faced challenges along all spheres of life, but with the increase in representation, they would hold the door for many women to pass through to achieve their full potential.
“We all must do better to support the women of Ghana,” she said.
“As we celebrate this day, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a Ghana where every woman and girl has the freedom to dream, the power to achieve, and the support to excel.”
GNA