DWM marks 36 years

The Developing Women for Mobilisation (DWM) has urged the government to encourage the cohesion of the families to ensure its place at the core of the nation.

The government, according to the DWM, must strengthen traditional upbringing in families as part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to sustainable development.

In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the DWM, Ms Sylvia Ahorlu, to mark 36 years of its existence, it stated that families should also share resources, care for the sick, the elderly, the disabled and socialise children in ways that no other institution could do effectively.

Solid platform

The DWM was previously known as the 31st December Women’s Movement and May 15, 2018 marked its 36th anniversary. Over the period, the DWM has built an extensive and solid platform with legislation to improve the rights and welfare of families in Ghana.

The day is also recognised throughout the world as the International Day for Families. The theme for this annual observance was “Families and Inclusive Societies”. This is to advance the Sustainable Development Goal 16.

The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Goals apply to all societies, and the family, as the most basic unit of society, is a powerful agent to exercise and disseminate the goals and targets as they are directly and indirectly related to the family.

Strengthening family values

The DWM, the statement pointed out, “encourages everyone in Ghana to support activities that are geared towards strengthening family values which will help in raising children who uphold our values as a country, even as we urge our government to provide a more planned and well-managed institution to combat all forms and dimensions of poverty”.

“We encourage everyone to commit to creating and promoting effective family life that delivers a developed family system and a developed society,” the statement indicated.

Alleviating family poverty in Ghana, in the view of the DWM, calls for focus on families rather than individual members, stating that: “It is within the family that programmes can be more efficiently and effectively implemented to tackle the root causes of poverty and do away with its vicious circle.”
Stronger families, the DWM argued, contributed more meaningfully to their own development and prosperity, as well as the betterment of society.

Persistence of poverty

There is sufficient evidence that the persistence of poverty is relatively higher in certain groups of people and types of households and families, the DWM added.

These, it stated, included single-parent households particularly headed by women and families living in rural areas and urban slums.

Congratulations and gratitude

The statement expressed gratitude to all who continued to support the work of the DWM and wished all women and children of Ghana a happy anniversary.

It also congratulated all non-governmental organisations (NGOs), institutions, corporate bodies and all women’s groups for their tireless efforts in contributing to the welfare and well-being of women and children in Ghana.