First Lady fetes women to mark International Women's Day
The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has commended women for their contributions and hard work towards the development of the country.
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"Women are working hard, and we are breaking new grounds every time. Women's contribution to the development of the country in all sectors cannot be ignored," she stated.
The First Lady gave the commendation when she hosted about 300 queenmothers and market women from the Greater Accra Region last Wednesday to commemorate the International Women's Day, which is observed on March 8 every year.
The International Women’s Day is celebrated to uphold women’s achievements, recognise their challenges and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality to mobilise all stakeholders to do their part.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!”, while the local theme was: “Beijing+20, advancing women’s empowerment.”
The event highlighted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic road map signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that set the agenda for realising women’s rights.
Women need support
Mrs Mahama said women in the country had over the years strived to work hard to rise to the top in the world of business and decision making, contributing significantly to the growth of the economy.
Therefore, she said, they deserved to be celebrated for their accomplishments in nurturing their families, shaping their communities and helping to build the country in different ways.
She said women should be given the needed support, considering their effectual role in nurturing the family, adding that “when women prosper, the family benefits more and many children will be supported to go to school.”
Going forward, Mrs Mahama advised women to take advantage of the various social interventions of the government and send their children to school, instead of subjecting them to labour at the market place.
On the condition of market places in the country, the First Lady said she was looking forward to the reconstruction of markets across the country, with better facilities to improve conditions and business.
Touching on sanitation, she urged the market executives and queenmothers to lead the campaign on sanitation to keep the markets and their environment clean, urging them to see every day as a sanitation day.
Queenmothers
Mrs Mahama urged the queenmothers to help break down barriers by leading public advocacy to reform outmoded socio-cultural practices.
On women’s health, the First Lady advised the women to examine their breasts regularly for the early detection of breast cancer.
Nana Amponsah Dokuaa III, the Paramount Queenmother of Osu and President of the Greater Accra Queenmothers Association, in her address, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for hosting them.
She said women had over the years contributed immensely to the development of the county in many ways which were commendable.
She appealed to President John Mahama, through the First Lady, to support the queenmothers with funds in their quest to promote the development of the girl-child, as well as provide a bus for the queenmothers association.
Nana Amponsah Dokuaa said girl-child education in the Greater Accra Region had fallen over the years and needed strong support to ensure that more girls went to school.