Women had demonstrated leadership capabilities- Dr Agyemang-Mensah

Ho, July 3, GNA - Dr Naana Agyemang-Mensah, Country Director of the Hunger Project, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Friday noted that Ghanaian women had demonstrated leadership capabilities by efficiently handling complex challenges that confronted them.

She said to consolidated this achievement; efforts should be made to build their confidence through exposure to social, economic and political rights so that they could take up leadership positions in their respective communities.

Dr Agyemang-Mensah was addressing the closing ceremony of the third of a series of workshops on "rights, education and leadership skills" organised by the NGO for 22 women volunteers from the Kpando district at Ho.

Issues discussed included domestic violence, rape and defilement, the Interstate Succession Law, the Will Act, types of marriages and laws on women, children rights, leadership styles, decision making, team building, communication development, skill acquisition, counselling, self-esteem, and women's sexual and reproductive health rights. Dr Agyemang-Mensah said the women who were encouraged by the NGO to take up political positions were performing well to the admiration of their constituents.

She said "We wish to empower women to enable them to realize and accept that they area expected to play critical roles in our democratic institutions because they contribute to political activities and indeed nation building".

Dr Agyemang-Mensah said the NGO was not committed to eliminating hunger alone but the eradication of illiteracy among the people so that they could develop their potentials.

Mr Pious Adanuti, Kpando District Chief Executive, expressed gratitude to the NGO for pursuing programmes aimed at addressing issues that affected the development of women and urged the participants to reach out to their colleagues with the knowledge and skills that they would acquire.

He said society would progress if women were assisted to overcome mindset, which the social system had imposed on them. Mrs Grace Kordadza, acting Kpando District Director of Health, urged the participants to assist the Health Service's field staff to educate women on their reproductive health and lamented that most women did not appreciate such health messages.

The 22 volunteers selected by their communities were expected to draw programmes to educate other women on the topics treated at the workshops and report to the Hunger Project.