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The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a civil society organisation, has urged women’s rights groups to enhance their collaboration in order to address ongoing gender inequalities and foster significant change.
The appeal was made in Accra over the weekend during the End-of-Year Review on the Status of Women in Ghana, which assessed both the advancements and challenges encountred by women worldwide in 2024.
The End-of-Year Review, hosted by NETRIGHT, not only acted as a platform for women’s rights organisations to consolidate their efforts and amplify their advocacy but also celebrated the launch of the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
Speaking at the event, Dr Rose Mensah Kutin, Executive Director of ABANTU for Development, praised the collaborative efforts among organisations such as NETRIGHT and the Affirmative Action Coalition, which have jointly advocated for the enactment of Ghana’s Affirmative Action Act.
She emphasised the importance of ongoing efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the Act under the forthcoming administration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama and Ghana’s first female Vice President-elect, Professor Jane Naana Opoku- Agyemang.
“Securing the Act is one achievement, but actualising its principles, is another matter entirely. It is essential for the next government to prioritise its implementation,” she stated.
She also pointed out several significant milestones in Ghana, including the election of the first female-led administration of the Ghana Bar Association, with Efua Ghartey and Victoria Barth serving as President and Vice President, respectively.
Dr Kutin recognised and praised Ghana’s first female Vice President, Prof. Naana Opoku- Agyemang, along with the female candidates for president and parliament in the recent general election, for their bravery and leadership in advocating for all women.
On an international scale, she noted that 12 African women, including Ugandan journalist and activist, Agather Atuhaire, were honoured with the 2024 International Women of Courage Award for their resilience and contributions to social justice.
Additionally, she mentioned the BBC’s list of 100 most inspiring and influential women featured figures such as an astronaut, Sunita Williams, climate activist, Adenike Oladosu, and Nobel laureate, Nadia Murad.
Despite these milestones, Dr Kutin emphasised that systemic barriers persist, including the pervasive influence of patriarchy, workplace discrimination, and the underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
She also reflected on the loss of trailblasers in the fight for gender equality, including Heba Suhaib H. Aref of the Syrian Women’s Network and U.S. poet and civil rights advocate, Nikki Giovanni.
She urged policymakers to address these issues through targeted interventions and policies that empower women. “We must inspire young girls to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
The Head of Secretariat and Team Leader of NETRIGHT, Patricia Blankson Akakpo, urged women to remain resilient in the face of challenges that might hinder their progress.
She emphasised the importance of perseverance, encouraging them not to be disheartened by setbacks, but to continue pushing forward with determination.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
