Akufo-Addo is keen on giving equal opportunities to women – Gender Minister

General News of Friday, 24 November 2017

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2017-11-24

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba has reiterated President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to ensuring gender equality by ending to any form of discrimination against women and girls in the country.

She explained that the promotion of gender equality which is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) five (5) is necessary because “It has been proven over time that empowering women and girls, has a multiplier effect and helps to increase economic growth and development”.

According to a speech read on behalf of the minister by the Director of Gender at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Comfort Asare at the re-inauguration of the Women in Surveying (WinS), Ghana has chalked remarkable success in its efforts to address gender inequality.

She disclosed through a number of social intervention programmes, “More girls are now in school compared to 10-years-ago, and most regions in Ghana are reaching gender parity in basic education”.

The Minister however observed that the challenges women face in the labour market still prevail as more women are denied key jobs that are seen to be for men.

To this effect, she said Ghana must step up the gender drive game to bring an end to the labour market inequalities.

She, therefore commended the Ghana Institution of Surveyors for re-inaugurating the WinS which she believes will help encourage and woe more women into the surveying industry.

“The re-inauguration of the Women’s Wing of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, ‘Women in Surveying’, is a laudable idea. This I believe would among others, promote the practice of surveying by women, create and advance the opportunities for women in the surveying profession,” she said.

The Minister urged the new leaders of the WinS to work together and sustain the association in order to achieve its purpose.