Sexual harassment remains a worrying concern - Ms Kwapong

Ms Jane Kwapong, Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has expressed worry about sexual harassment women face at home and the workplaces as they go about their daily routines.

She wondered why women would still give sexual favours in exchange for appointments when they qualify as well as their male counterparts.

Ms Kwapong was speaking at this year’s Eastern Regional celebration of the International Women’s Day in Koforidua on Friday.

Ms Kwapong said though women are in charge of food security in the areas of agriculture, they lack production resources such as land, technology and credit.

She said “though the Domestic Violence Act, Act 732 was passed in 2007, violence against women as well as gender based violence is on the ascendancy” and our women and girls continue to be abused, brutalized and denied basic rights to own property and land.

Mr Solomons Djaba-Mensah, a former Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), said the voice of women has become very powerful and indispensable locally, regionally, nationally and internationally”.

He said in Germany where the Chancellor, Mrs Angela Merkel, though has done six terms in office but due to her excellent performance many Germans still wanted her to continue into the seventh term.

Mr Djaba-Mensah said women make a difference wherever they go, at the workplace, in the communities and private sector among other things.

He said Ghana is now in lower middle income status adding that to help it move faster to the upper status, women should help lead the fight against Anti-Corruption and Good Governance, wherever they find themselves.

Mr John G. Amamoo, Eastern Regional GNAT Secretary, said the Association recognized the worth and dignity of the girl-child in all facets or spheres of life.

He said the GNAT was of the view that granted her freedom, the girl-child and women in general would be equipped with the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to take their destiny into their own hands.

This year’s celebration is under the theme, “Gaining Momentum in the Gender Agenda, The Role of Men and Boys in Curbing Violence against Women and Girls”.