The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection has launch activities earmarked to commemorate this year’s International Women’s day slated for March 8, 2018.
The United Nation’s has announced this year’s theme as “Time is now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s lives” to draw attention to the rights and activism of rural women, who make up over the 25% of the world’s population.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Gender, Children and Social protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba stated that slight variation has been made to the global theme to focus on our immediate concerns as Ghanaian women and the peculiar demands of our socio-cultural environment.
“With our theme, ‘#WomenToo: Press to Progress as Game changers’, we aim to use the days leading up to 8th March to undertake a series of activities and advocacy that will fix the spotlight firmly on the urgent need to refocus attention on institutional and socio-cultural barriers that are preventing women especially rural women from enjoying an adequate standard of living a life free of violence and harmful practices, access to land and productive assess, food security and nutrition, decent work , education and health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights”.
Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba intimated that as we countdown to the celebration of International Women Day 2018, she called on all citizens of Ghana to reflect on the state of women, who are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, and resolve to respect, protect and promote their rights as citizens, deserving of lives free of discrimination and violence in order to harness their full potentials for the development our dear nation.
According to her while we have made significant and tremendous progress as women, it is disheartening and dispiriting to learn that a despicable and dehumanizing practice like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)is on the upsurge in some parts of the Upper East Region. She however announced that her Ministry has launch a special campaign aimed at the total eradication of this heinous practice.
Outlining the programmes for the one-week long celebration culminating on the women’s day celebration on the 8th of March, she stated the following;
- There will be media encounters from the 1st to 8th of March; there will be a public lecture as part of the Ghana at 60 celebrations on the topic ‘Prospects, Successes and Challenges of the Ghanaian Woman’
- On Friday 2nd March, there will be a debate for secant cycle institutions in Accra on the theme ‘Behind every successful woman, there is a man’ at the GNAT Hall
- On Saturday 3rd March, there will be fun games with various women groups including security agencies, Gender ladies, Female Caucus of Parliament and female Ambassadors in Ghana, Ministries at the El Wak Sports stadium
- On Sunday 4thof March, there will be church service at the forecourt of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
- On Monday 5th of March there will be a “Media Storm’ to discuss issues on gender equality.
- On Wednesday 6th March, there will be a route march and rally at the Independence Square. It will start at 7:00 am from the Obra Spot at Circle
- On Thursday 8th March, there will be a Panel discussion organized by the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akuffo Addo
- On Friday 9th March, there will be a live band extravaganza to raise funds in support of ‘#Operation Get Off the Street Now for a Better Life”
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