Women need equal access to natural resources

Mr Kenneth Nana Amoateng, the Chief Executive Officer of the Abibiman Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has said that rural women needed equal access to natural resources.

He said investing in women through agriculture, education and childcare would make them and young girls stronger to contribute their quota towards community and national development.

Mr Amoateng said this at the “Ghana Bamboo Bike Road Show” programme dubbed: “Action 2015” as part of activities to commemorate the International Women’s Day organised in Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.

The theme for the celebration was: “Re-thinking Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in 2015 – Make it Happen.”

Mr Amoateng called for greater equality and progress for women and the creation of platforms for young women to come out with their potentials.

He said women as guardians of households, communities and natural resources should not be left out in decision making and adaption of strategies in changing environmental realities.

Mr Amoateng said the bamboo bicycle road show was to draw government’s attention to invest in the establishment of bamboo plantations across the country, as one of the strategies of mitigating the effect of climate change.

He said the powerful advocacy of women compelled the foundation to be part of the women’s Day, to promote the usefulness of bamboo.

Mr Amoateng said the patronage of the bamboo bicycles had grown globally over the last few years and gradually, the focus was now being shifted on bamboo due to increase in the cost of steel and aluminum.

He said the bamboo bike market was booming because of the global warming, adding that, the nation must accelerate action to establish bamboo plantation in the country.

Miss Naa Teidey Ofori, Miss Tourism, Ghana 2014, who rode the bamboo bicycle through the principal streets of Accra, told the Ghana News Agency that she was happy to promote the bamboo bicycle, as part of her rural community-based development project to improve opportunities for women.

Miss Lamisi Sam Awinongya, former Ghana Most Beautiful Queen, who also took part in the bamboo bicycle ride, said women were effective agents of change in relation to adaptation, mitigation and disaster reduction.