Ghana Women set dramatic 2030 gender equality target

Ghana must have a female President or Vice President by 2030, Ghanaian Gender Advocates have stated and this is in tune with the framework of UN Commission on the Status of Women’s (CSW59) reinvigorated targets for the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The Ghana Women reinvigorated targets for the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action states that within the next 15 years women must occupy 60 per cent of Ministerial portfolios especially Finance, Energy, Education and Health.

Fifty per cent of Vice Chancellors and University Professors must be women, 60 per cent of state corporation Chief Executive Officers; Ghana Club 100 Chief Executive Officers and Bank Chief Executive Officers.

The Ghana Women 2030 reinvigorated Beijing Declaration was read by Mrs Charlotte Ama Osei, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Ghana’s side event at the on-going CSW59 session at New York.

The Ghana side event organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection was on the general theme: “40 years of Ghana’s national Women’s Machinery: achievements, challenges and prospects,” was used to showcase the country.

The Ghana Women 2030 target also aims at 60 per cent of Parliamentary seats, 60 per cent of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives post; and 60 per cent of Assembly and Unit Committee members.

On Education, the Ghana Women 2030 agenda targets 60:40 at all levels; complete elimination of Female genital mutilation, Child Early and Forced Marriages (CEFM), Witches' or Wizards' camps.

The Agenda also said reasonable number of women should be moderators of the member churches of the Christian Council, whilst 70 per cent of heads and owners of media institutions should also be women.

On traditional authority, the Ghana Women Agenda 2030 at getting a queen mother as the President of the National House of Chiefs.

The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) Session, currently on-going in New York, has set 2030 as the expiry date for gender inequality.

In a survey report tagged: 'The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action turns 20,' obtained by the Ghana News Agency at UN Headquarters, which focuses on progress, challenges and lessons learnt for the realization of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and the human rights of women and girls in the post-2015.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said Ghana was one of the first countries to establish a national women’s machinery in 1975 in response to the United National General Assembly Resolution (961 FXXXVD) to establish the National Council on Women and Development the machinery for the advancement women in 1975.

She said the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) was established by National Redemption Council Decree 322 (NRCD 322) February 20, 1975.

The first Council was composed of 15 women and 5 men selected on a country-wide basis to serve in their personal capacities as well as 10 Principal Secretaries representing various Ministries.

She said the Council was to advice government generally on all matters relating to the full integration of women in national development of all levels; evaluate the contribution of women in the economic social and cultural fields and so to advise government as to the specific areas where participation of women may be strengthened or initiated.

The Gender Minister said the Women Machinery was also to develop plans and proposals for the establishment of large-scale non-formal education and farming for the purpose of raising living standards in the rural and urban communities and eradicating illiteracy.

It was also to serve as the official national body for co-operation, co-ordination and liaising with national and international organizations on matters relating to the status of women.

Nana Oye Lithur said the ministry had over the years championed the strengthening of legal framework by enacting Affirmative Action Bill, Intestate Succession Bill, Property Rights of Spouses Bill, Human Trafficking Regulations, and Domestic Violence Regulations.

On challenges and prospects, the Gender Minister explained that socio-cultural influences, inadequate resources for Department and Ministry effective gender mainstreaming.

Behavioural and attitudinal changes within our cultural setting; and lack of sex disaggregated data to promote effective gender planning and evidence based decision making on gender, Nana Oye Lithur said.

Other speakers at the side event included; Ms Hilary Gbedemah, a Member of the UN CEDAW; Ms Laadi Ayamba, Chairperson of Gender Select Committee of Parliament; Ms Christine Musisi, Africa Regional Director, UN Women; Mr Philbert Johnson of the Ghana UN Mission in New York.