First Lady pledges to champion women's advancement

First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has pledged to champion the cause of women’s advancement in Ghana and advocate for more political inclusiveness of women.

She said as a nation "we cannot exclude a population that is more than half of Ghana’s population from political decision making. That is no way for us to develop"

She also charged all the women present to pledge in supporting the advancement of women in their various places of influence and "be the shoulders that other women stand on" stating that Ghana needs more female voices in politics and policy making as well as in academia, industry, business, finance agriculture, the arts and many more areas.”

This she said: "it is going to be a long arduous battle, but I believe we are up to it."

Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo said these when she hosted women from various backgrounds and institutions from across Ghana, on March 8, 2017, to mark the International Women's Day at her Ridge Office, to reflect on the theme for this year's commemoration, "Be Bold for Change".

Addressing the gathering, the First Lady noted that this year's theme is rather spot on, considering a World Economic Forum prediction that "gender gap won't close entirely until 2186".

She observed that if women are bold enough to galvanise individuals and organisations to commit to help women and girls achieve their ambitions; challenge gender biases; call for gender-balanced leadership; value women and men's contributions equally; and create inclusive flexible cultures, then we would sooner rather than later have a generation of women who are equal partners with men in all spheres of life.

She saluted women especially Ghanaian women who have made great contributions to get the country closer to gender parity by empowering and inspiring generations of women.

She acknowledged women such as Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Susana Al-Hassan, Sophia Doku Grace, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Chief Justice Theodora Georgina Wood Former speaker of parliament Joyce Adeline Bamford- Addo, Madam Frema Opare the first Chief of Staff, Dr. Joyce Aryee, Mrs. Esther Ocloo an industrialist, Air force pilot Melody Millicent Danquah and many others who have been trail blazers in empowering other women in fashion, politics, finance, small and medium business and so many other areas.

The First Lady said, women still have a long way to go in achieving gender parity in the face of abuse and discrimination.

Present at the gathering were the Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Chief Justice Theodora Georgina Woode, Former Second Lady Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama, Mrs. Charlotte Osei Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Joyce Aryee.