2016 in retrospect - promoting gender equality, equity

In the year 2016, the country recorded many significant activities and programmes targeted at promoting gender equality and equity, social protection and the development of children. We present the highlights of some of the activities.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) initiated reforms to the management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme after the programme’s ministerial responsibilities were moved from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Gender Ministry.

* A platform, dubbed the “Executive Women’s Network” (EWN) to inspire, empower and support women in executive positions to help build the capacities of other women to be successful and influential at the local and international levels, was launched by Strategic Communications Africa Limited (STRATCOMM) in Accra.

* The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and the MoGCSP signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commit both parties to work at achieving gender equality and women empowerment.

* In May, the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) now Department of Social Development (DSD), in an operation with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, rescued 34 street children who were later screened and classified according to their specific needs.

* The MoGCSP, in June, launched the National Social Protection Policy which sought to provide a holistic approach to the protection of the most vulnerable in society.

*Ms Hilary Gbedemah, a lawyer and renowned women’s right activists, was re-elected to serve on the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which took place in New York in June 2016.

* The Abuja-based Organisation of African Achievers adjudged the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, as the winner of the Women Empowerment Award in recognition of her work to improve the lot of women in the field of socio-economic development, enterprise and motivation of others.

* The Hunger Project handed over multi-purpose epicentres established in 16 communities in the Birim South District in the Eastern Region to beneficiaries in line with the project’s effort at alleviating poverty and hunger in the area.

* The MoGCSP launched the National School Feeding Policy with an aim to improve the provision of nutritious meals to pupils in deprived schools through an efficient and reliable school feeding programme.

* The Women’s Manifesto Coalition (WMC) launched the second Women’s Manifesto as a political document that sets out critical issues of concern to women in the country.  The first Women Manifesto was launched in 2004.

* The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, received a Humanitarian Award in Chicago USA at the 50th International Women Luncheon of the Rainbow Push Coalition for her outstanding work as an advocate for the destitute and vulnerable children in Africa.

* The Technology for Maternal and Child Health (T4MCH) project was launched in the Volta Region to enable more pregnant women and nursing mothers to access health care to reduce maternal and infant deaths.

* ‘Her Choice Project,’ which is a five-year project aimed at eradicating child marriage in some parts of the country, was launched in Kokoruda by the Hunger Project-Ghana with support from the Dutch Government.

* A total of 37 women were elected to the seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic at the end of the December 7 general election.