Let’s focus more attention on women’s issue

Women constitute more than half of ghana’s population; that is, 51.2 per cent. Without their participation in the public discourse or the decision_making process, it will be difficult for Ghana to achieve sustainable development.

Unfortunately, women’s participation at all levels of decision-making is very low. This can be attributed to patriarchy or male dominance, which is a key aspect of the Ghanaian social system.

Sadly, in many countries around the world, women are not treated as being equal to men. Ghana is not an exception, as women are more likely to live in poverty, have less land, are excluded from decision-making and earn minimal income. These existing hardships make it hard for women’s empowerment in Ghana.

Violence against women is a major issue that they face. Women and young girls often face widespread violence, sexual harassment and abuse in the areas that they populate, which include their homes, workplaces, the streets and on public transportation.

In many circumstances, women have to constantly live in fear of being attacked and this can lessen their likelihood of living full lives.

The lack of control that women in ghana have over their own bodies is also extremely harmful.

Women and girls are forced to endure dangerous practices that bring great suffering to them. One of these practices is female genital mutilation.

Some of the issues that deserve attention are violence against women and girls, bringing women to the forefront of decision-making and leadership opportunities and harnessing women’s economic empowerment and economic justice.

The Graphic Quarterly Review believes that women’s rights should remain a priority in developmental policies, while we advocate spaces where women’s voices, especially those from poorer backgrounds, will be heard.

Another knotty issue which requires urgent attention is women’s education. In ghana, there are major inequalities when it comes to women’s access to education.

The country is nearing gender parity in primary education, but the gender gap in post-primary education remains a challenge, although there has been a marginal improvement in the percentage of girls in senior high schools and technical vocational education and training.

Although Ghana has made significant progress in primary education, gender gaps remain in technical training and higher education. While many companies offer on-the-job training, most of it is focused on helping women do their jobs today, not on preparing them for the future.

For women to advance and contribute fully to companies and economic growth, they need ongoing training, with long-term goals in mind.

It is important to state that economic empowerment is not just about women’s participation in the economy — it is about ensuring that women have the necessary resources, opportunities, protection and skills to achieve their full potential and have a choice in what they do with their lives.

The distinction between participation and empowerment is important in the context of Ghana, where encouraging women to join the labour force, in some cases, means women stay in low-level jobs so that they can continue to provide for their families, instead of pursuing further schooling or career advancement opportunities.

It is clear that Ghana has made considerable progress towards gender equality. The number of inspiring female community and business leaders we see is a testament to that.

Yet, significant challenges remain. For companies, investing in women in ghana is not only smart business but also a chance to strengthen sector growth, build healthy communities and enable ghana to live up to its potential as a key trading partner and model of an inclusive economy.