Reconstitute your mentality—Nana Konadu urges women

Kumasi, Nov 20, GNA- The former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, has urged Ghanaian women to reconstitute their mentality and develop new mindsets to fight against the male dominated society.

She said gender equality should be tackled from the grass-root and not be learnt in textbooks.

“Gender equality is not learnt in books but must be inculcated within ourselves, from our homes and elementary levels of education”, she emphasized.

Mrs Rawlings made the call at the launch of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Students Representative Council (SRC) Women Commission's Week celebration in Kumasi on Saturday.

It was under the theme “Promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment- the Role of the Stakeholder”.

She recommended to men to be actively involved in the fight for equality by eradicating psychological torture and help in the promotion of respect for feminine opinions.

Mrs Rawlings lauded the United Nations' role in women empowerment and said the Beijing Conference, which officially brought women issues to the fore, have impacted positively on society.

She appealed to Parliament to enact more laws that are gender sensitive in order to promote equality in the field of socio-economic, politics and education.

She advised the students to “have a dream, be gender sensitive, have a vision and above all be bold in the pursuit of your dream”.

In a speech read on his behalf, Professor Otoo Ellis, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, traced the development of human rights and said such rights should be sacred and inalienable.

He commended Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings on her pioneering role in the promotion of women empowerment and said the 31st December Women's Movement has played a pivotal role in women emancipation.

Professor Ellis urged the students to emulate the example of Mrs Rawlings and learn her leadership skills.

Ms Serwaah Sarfo Mensah, SRC Women's' Commissioner, appealed to all institutions to give equal opportunities to women to enable them unleash the potentials and fully participate in the development process of society.

She acknowledged Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Samia Nkrumah Chairman of the Conventions Peoples Party, Madam Patricia Apiagyei, former Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive and Mrs Theodora Wood, Chief Justice, as shining examples of women who always serve as role models and motivation to young women.

GNA