Women urged to focus on equity rather than equality

Koforidua, April 6, GNA- The Greater Accra Regional Manager of Presbyterian schools, Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng, has said that the focus of emancipation for women should be fairness and not equality. She argued that God in his own wisdom created men and women biologically differently to compliment each other and without one being inferior to the other

"Therefore our focus in the emancipation of women should be that, because women are also creatures of the same God we must be treated fairly".

Ms Boateng, was speaking at a programme to mark the observation of the International Women's Day organized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at Koforidua, on Wednesday under the theme " Gender Equality: Building a better future."

She said though women constitute majority of the population of the country, they had not been given the necessary support to excel in their field of endeavours as a result, a significant proportion of their talents were unexploited and under utilized. Ms Boateng said gender inequity in societies had been a universal problem and attempts to get solutions to it continue to be elusive.

" The surest way to achieve equity is to educate our children, both boys and girls on equal lines" since it was only through education, that "the weapon to fight all the social-culture barriers set against women and the entire nation could be strengthened" she said.

Ms Boateng called on society to accommodate all persons, irrespective of their sex so that they could be able to develop their talents, skills and gifts in their area of influence, "we as a people should make provisions for everybody to be the best that they can be". She said that for affirmative action to be achieved, an effective performance and monitoring system had to be put in place.

The Eastern Regional Secretary of the TUC, Ms Francisca Borkor Bortey called on women to take delight in reading valuable materials and listen to worthwhile radio programmes to limit their quest in watching and listening to emotional and sensational programmes.

She said the focus of bringing up the girl child should not only be on her becoming a better wife, but also as an independent individual. She noted that despite the modest success chalked by women, those within the Trades Union still had to double their efforts if the fight for gender equity is to be achieved.