As we celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) 2025, the theme "For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment" strongly aligns with our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and equality. This year also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a significant milestone in the global push for gender equality. The theme is a powerful call to renew our efforts in transforming promises into tangible progress, tackling the gender pay gap, ensuring women's safety, and recognizing the value of both paid and unpaid care work.
IWD is celebrated annually on March 8th and stands as a global movement advocating for gender equality, women's empowerment, and social justice. It is a day to recognize the achievements of women across various fields while highlighting the challenges they continue to face. The official colors associated with IWD 2025—purple, green, and white—symbolize justice, hope, and purity, reflecting the spirit of this important day.
Equipping women in Ghana with the necessary skills, knowledge, and opportunities to engage in the energy transition will promote both gender equality and sustainable development goals at the same time. By ensuring that women in Ghana have equal chances to participate in and gain from the clean energy transition, we can speed up progress towards objectives like affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), gender equality (SDG 5), and economic growth (SDG 8). This inclusive strategy not only strengthens the resilience and sustainability of energy systems but also fosters social equity, economic empowerment, and community well-being worldwide.
Dr. Paula Gatsey-Atabudzi, OD, MSc Clinical Ophthalmology emphasizes, "Ghanaian women with their diverse socioeconomic ties are a major stakeholder in the conversation of Energy Transition. At the markets, factories, hospitals and homes our contributions cannot be ignored. We need a fair transition that is reliable, accessible and affordable with improved or much less pollution to the world. Life must be better as we desire to transition to sustainable renewable energy and for that matter the contribution of the Ghanaian women would be impactful for equity."
Maybel Acquaye, Senior Policy Analyst -ACEP said “Access to clean energy for cooking and heating remains a significant challenge in ghana, particularly in rural communities, disproportionately affecting women and girls responsible for these tasks. This not only exposes them to harmful indoor pollution, leading to serious health issues but also consumes substantial productive hours inhibiting women economic empowerment and efforts at addressing inequalities. To “accelerate action” and achieve “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, it is imperative to actively involve women at every stage in our energy transition journey, contextualizing policies, frameworks, and local projects to ensure the intentionality in design in a manner that seek to address women’s unique needs and challenges for a fair, inclusive, and transformative transition.”
Mrs. Mabel Frimpong, a Senior High School Facilitator in Tema further states, "Change in every aspect of life is incomplete without women, and the energy sector is no exception. The educational sector requires sustainable affordable energy in today's world. Classrooms are dark, computers cannot be powered for teaching and learning as a result of lack of access to power and affordability. Communities without fair access to electricity compete with endowed areas thereby creating unfair opportunities and lack of equity. Access and affordable renewable energy can address these challenges noting women and girls as the pillars of society. Transitioning to renewable energy that is sustainable, accessible and affordable offers enormous opportunities in the circles of women and girls."
Ms. Indeye Seck, the Program Officer for AbibiNsroma Foundation added “Just Energy Transition will make life easier when it’s affordable to all. More businesses can sprout especially for women since they are vulnerable to climate change. Unstable electricity has caused many women and children to lose their livelihoods and even their lives. This happens when hospitals have no backup generators to power the facilities. We believe that a safe, sustainable and reliable transition to renewable energy will soften the blow. I urge all women in decision-making circles, CSOs, learners, facilitators, parents to encourage the girl child to aspire for more in education and also support her economically, financially and socially. This makes the girl child concentrate on her education and family. Encouraging her to speak up. The Affirmative Action Law is just a stepping stone to greatness”
Ms. Cecelia Yankey, a Research Assistant later added that the active participation of Ghanaian women in research laboratories, boardrooms and grassroots initiatives are essential to achieving a greener and more equitable future for all.
Petrine Addae, Consultant at AbibiNsroma Foundation further explained “Empowering women through education is ensuring that the gains from education make women self reliant.
It means giving women the opportunity to hone their skills and play critical roles in their communities. Empowering women through education also means that women prosper in their area of endeavors, where they transform lives and make impact in society. As we celebrate IWD, there is the need to ponder over these questions: Are women being empowered enough?
Are women being educated enough? What is the quality of education given to women and girls? How can we accelerate action to ensure that women are empowered through education?
In the context of energy-related decision-making, women often encounter barriers that go unnoticed. This lack of awareness, coupled with limited opportunities, creates a cycle that must be broken. It is essential to provide safe spaces for women to discuss and advance ideas related to renewable energy and energy access. Mentorship programs and grassroots efforts are crucial in this regard. By integrating these practices into energy programs and making them widely accessible, we empower women to develop the skills and support necessary to become decision-makers in their communities.
As we mark this significant day, let us collectively commit to breaking barriers and creating a more equitable world for women and girls everywhere. By coming together and supporting one another, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for all. Let’s celebrate the women in our lives and commit to making the world a better place for everyone.
Source: AbibiNsroma Foundation
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