Legon Professor calls for societal changes to fix gender relations

Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana-Legon, has called for the adaptation of gender of roles to move with the dynamics of the society.

"As societies change, gender roles also need to adapt to these change," she stressed, when she delivered an Inaugural Lecture on the topic: "The Driver and the Mate : Gender Politics in Africa and Social Transformation."

She said to appreciate dynamism in gender roles and relations, education is very important.

Prof Ampofo noted that whilst certain laid down notions that determined gender relations in core areas such as the bond between a married couple may have been appropriate in years past, the significance of some of these ideas had been weakened with time.

She said there is the need for genuine co-operation between men and women, for the progress of the society.

"To appreciate dynamism in gender roles and relations, education and an entire social re-orientation of the issue are very important."

Prof Ampofo said it was also important for the law to be implemented, whenever the need arose, in order to ensure that issues bordering on human rights, were well addressed.

She said civil society had to ensure that by all means, the rights of people in gender relations, are always respected and protected.

"We must speak and act out against what is wrong," she said.