GCAC CONFERS FELLOWSHIP AWARDS ON 7 WOMEN ON THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CENTENARY CELEBRATION

The Country Director of the Ghana Country Award Council, His Awardship Kobla Asamani said International Women's Day, (IWD) is a day to celebrate the gains women have made over the years and to bring our attention to the issues that still face us. For most of us, it's a day set aside to recognise what women have made and continue to make a difference and to celebrate women's contribution towards improving workplaces and working conditions, as well as their tireless volunteering work which has contributed to the growth of more vibrant and robust communities in the world today for everyone.

Commemorating this year's celebration at the Awards House exactly 7:30 this morning, His Awardship Kobla Asamani noted that Ghana is no exception in the celebration of International Women's Day.

He underscored that this year marks 100 years of the celebration of IWD. Giving as brief history of the event, Country Director Kobla Asamani said the event which originated in 1908 when women garment makers in New York demonstrated to demand better working conditions. He emphasized that the women worked in appalling conditions, earned half of men's wages, died prematurely from poor health and did not have the right to vote.

He noted that, in 1910, an international conference of women resolved that each year a day should be set aside to press for women's demands. Since then IWD has been celebrated around the world each year on March 8. From its inception, IWD has stood for equality between women and men.
His Awardship Kobla Asamani in his speech said in view of the celebration of this year IWD, the Ghana Country Award Council High Command has conferred different Fellowship Awards of the Ghana National Honorary Awards of Fame on some distinguished women of this nation to recognise their achievements and the leadership they have provided over the years throughout their life and having a significant impact on national development.

In a short message read on behalf of the Vice Patron of GCAC, His Awardship Major Courage Emmanuel Kobla Quashigah (Rtd), the Minister of Health, said, the immense contributions of distinguished women of this nation would remain an unprecedented record in the history of the advancement of women in recent times. He said as today marks a centenary of IWD, Ghanaians must congratulate our illustrious women who have served this nation in diverse ways enabling Ghana to come this far in her advancement of good governance, peace and stability.
CONFERMENT OF THE FELLOWSHIP AWARDS

Announcing the names of recipients and conferring various Fellowship Awards on them, His Awardship Kobla Asamani listed them as follows saying today women of substance have being admitted to a National Class of Distinction, that is Fellowship of the Ghana National Honorary Awards Hall of Fame. Mr. Asamani again said, “What a memorable day on the celebration of a centenary of International Women's Day” reiterating the need to honour our national heroes. He finally, mentioned the names as follows:

1) Mrs. Emma Lillian Bruce Lynn, FGNAHAF: Chief Director, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, and 39 years in the Civil Service. The Order of Master of Distinction in Leadership and Governance

2) Mrs. Vida Koranteng Asante, FGNAHAF: 34 years as a former newscaster of GBC and 18 years as a floral decorator. The Order of Master of Exceptional Excellence in Broadcast Journalism and Floral Decoration

3) Ms. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, FGNAHAF: Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Commerce, over 36 years of service to the nation, The Order of Master of Distinction in Organizational Leadership and Public Relations.

4) Miss Elizabeth Quarmyne, FGNAHAF: Chief Scheduling Officer in Charge of GES Awards and Treasure to the Ghana Olympics Committee. The Order of Master of Exceptional Merit in Sports Education and Youth Development

5) Mrs. Gertrude Opare Addo, FGNAHAF: former Head of Service, GBC Radio 2 and 40 years as a news caster. Currently the CEO of Alpha Media Consults. The Order of Master of Exceptional Excellence in Broadcast Journalism

6) Mrs. Dorothy Abra Glover, FGNAHAF: National Coordinator of School Programmes of GES HQ, The Order of Master Extraordinary Achievement in Secondary Education Programmes

7) Mrs. Rose Karikari Anang, FGNAHAF: Executive Director, Ghana Employers Association (GEA). The Order of Master of Extraordinary Excellence in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management.

Some recipients of the Fellowship Awards who were proud to be honoured said they were very grateful to GCAC. For instance, Mrs. Emma Lillian Bruce Lynn, FGNAHAF: Chief Director, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture said she is very grateful for being selected for an Award and that she never thought she would be honoured some day.
Another recipient Mrs. Vida Koranteng Asante, FGNAHAF also expressed her appreciation to GCAC.
Both Fellows of the Ghana National Honorary Awards of Fame called on the youth to be patient and disciplined in all spheres of their development since that would enable them attain greater heights.

_______________SIGNED_________________
Cecil Nii Obodai Wentum
Under Country Director
Department of Media and Public Affairs