Women empowerment not a fight between sexes
Various speakers at a forum have underscored the fact that the advocacy for the empowerment of women was not a fight between men and women.
According to them, they still recognise men as the family head but what they are saying is that women should be allowed to achieve their innate capabilities.
The forum was organised by the Gender, Equality and Social Inclusion Unit of the Saint Francis College of Education (FRANCO), in collaboration with the Student’s Representative Council, to commemorate this year's International Women’s Day at Hohoe in the Volta Region last Saturday.
It was on the theme: “For All Women and Girls, Equality Empowerment”.
The male students of FRANCO organised an inter-hall cooking competition to precede the forum. This was in appreciation of the roles women play in their lives and to show their readiness to offer them the support they needed to undertake all their responsibilities.
The Principal of FRANCO, Dr Adwoa Kwagyiriba, noted that men and women see their worldview differently and the two sexes contributed together to ensure the survival of society.
She did not understand why women who contributed to 51 per cent of the population should be ignored in decisions about gender issues such as daily survival, health, education, poverty and threats of conflicts taken by the 49 per cent who are men.
She said there was no denying that the many women have improved greatly within the country’s cultural context.
“Women are also making their mark in the political arena to provide the leadership that is needed to drive the country forward,” she said.
Turning to the female students, Dr Kwagyiriba said their empowerment did not give them the right to misbehave when they are in school. She reminded them that their main reason for being on campus was to study, “so concentrate on that,” she said.
Equal playing field
The Guest Speaker, the Divisional Queenmother of Gbi Kledzo, Mamaga Meemeseo III, said what women’s rights activists were calling for was an equal playing field for women to unleash the potential they have.
Mamaga Meemeaseo said it was a pity that throughout the world, a lot of girls were still out of school and many more were undergoing all sorts of violence.
She, therefore, called for more advocacy on women's empowerment to ensure the rapid development of society for the benefit of all.
A Gender Activist, Stanley Akabua, said he owed most of his success in life to the numerous pieces of advice given by his wife.
Mr Akabua agreed that the empowerment of women should be given all the encouragement it deserves, saying women should realise that they have a lot to offer in society and as such should guard it seriously.
