African women breaking barriers on the global stage

The elevation of Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, to the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General recently shines a spotlight on the opportunities now available to African women on the international stage.

Similarly, in 2021, Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was appointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the highest position within the organisation.  Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and Ms Botchwey are the first African women to hold these prestigious positions.

Another high-level appointment for a Ghanaian woman was that of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Serwah Tetteh. Upon leaving office, she became the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU).

Source of inspiration

These remarkable stories and appointments should be shared often with our African women as sources of inspiration.

As a youth in Africa, though in my early 40s, I find these appointments and the elevation of African women highly encouraging. They motivate me to continue promoting and advancing the education of women in my community, especially young girls.

Growing up in the Zongos, I witnessed the belief that a woman’s secular education beyond a certain stage was akin to giving her a dagger to stab her family—or her husband—in the heart.

Thankfully, this perception is changing, though there remains a lingering mindset among some men regarding women with higher education.

Stereotyping

It’s, therefore, unsurprising to see high rates of divorce or single women—often referred to as “tuluruwa”—still residing with their parents among educated women in Muslim or Zongo communities across Ghana and Africa at large.

Single women with university degrees often experience resentment from men in the Zongos who consider themselves ready for marriage but lack similar educational backgrounds or status.

More needs to be done to combat the stigma and stereotypes around educated women in our communities. By all standards, the education of girls/women is as vital as the education of boys/men.

I also encourage women with higher education in the Zongos, who may see themselves as “high-class,” to remain tolerant, understanding and mindful of their community and religious values.

Being considerate toward men with fewer qualifications or lower-paying jobs can promote harmony in our communities.

Sources of motivation

A family is built by two people, not one. Coming together as a family requires mutual respect and these qualities help foster peaceful relationships.

Reflecting on the achievements of these distinguished African women, I urge all junior and senior high school teachers, headmasters, headmistresses, parents, guardians and community leaders to use their stories as sources to motivate and inspire younger generations.

Ghana continues to set examples for Africa and the world. At one time, it was almost unthinkable for a woman to lead vital state institutions such as the Judiciary or Parliament in parts of Africa.

But Ghana has made such leadership common, accepted and normalised within its borders and beyond.

Our Holy Books, the Quran and the Bible (Old and New Testaments) encourage us to be fair, just and tolerant in our interactions with one another.

But too often, women are denied their due status at home, in communities and at workplaces. If we genuinely want our daughters to receive the respect they deserve, these practices must change.

Illustration in Quran

Islam, in particular, reminds us of the equality of men and women except for those who most fear Allah, as illustrated in the following verse and hadith:

“Surely for Muslim men and women, believing men and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often—for ˹all of˺ them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Quran 33:35)

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “None of you attains faith until he loves for his neighbour what he loves for himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

I pray to Allah to elevate our ranks in this world and the hereafter and to keep us steadfast on His path of righteousness.

“Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.” ~ Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

— The writer is an Eminent Member and Chairman of the Finance and Fundraising Committee, Greater Accra Regional Peace Council, National Peace Council of Ghana (NPC)