Ghana develops action plan to give more protection to women

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC) has developed a national action plan to give more protection and safeguard the fundamental rights of women.

It also seeks to promote their participation in conflict prevention and the security institutions as well as shield them from physical abuse.

Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, the Minister, said the plan had already received parliamentary approval adding that, its successful implementation would enhance the welfare of women, girls and children.

She said it was a fulfillment of the United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 1325.

She said this in an address read for her at the opening of a two-day stakeholders’ training workshop on “domestic violence and early warning signs” in Kumasi.

The programme was jointly organized by the MOWAC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and brought together 50 participants, including security personnel, representatives of the district assemblies, gender activists and women groups.

The goal was to educate and help them to have better understanding of sexual and gender-based violence.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah spoke of the need to do everything to tackle all issues that are likely to trigger conflicts and gender-based violence ahead of this year’s general elections.

UNDP Representative, Mrs Vivian Bruce Tetteh, said peaceful, free and fair elections were fundamental to achieving sustainable human development.

Superintendent of Police, Kwaku Amoako, Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), said his outfit had stepped up education to reduce the incidence of sexual and gender-based violence and that they would prosecute offenders to serve as a deterrent.

Nana Birago Ababio, Queen of Mpobi, called for an end to cultural practices that are inimical to the development of women.**