MOTHER’S DAY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED EVERY DAY

Mother's Day is a time of commemoration and celebration of mothers here in Ghana and elsewhere. It is a time to show our mothers how much we care. Mother's Day is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a Country in addressing the concerns of women and mother's in particular.

As we pause to celebrate Mother's Day across the country, we should be reminded that a mother is not just a woman who has given birth to her own flesh and blood, but equally and most noteworthy, those who sacrifice their lot to nurture other people's children to attain great heights. Too often our mothers are so focused on our needs that they neglect the stress in their own lives; consequently, they pay dearly for such sacrifices in so many ways. What would we do without them?

Our mothers till the soil to produce the food that sustains us; most peasant farmers are women. We know that a good number of SMEs that drive our economies are built and sustained by women, mostly mothers. Women empowerment, women participation in decision making, domestic violence and maternal health should be the issues that drive the discussions today – are we on the right track in respect of these issues as a country?

Let's remember that today as we celebrate Mother's Day, “some 1,000 women around the world may die in pregnancy or childbirth, and 99 percent of those deaths will occur in developing countries.” No society is fully successful if women are not participating in all sectors. The role of mothers therefore is imperative for national development. This vision is not owned by a political party or any other establishment - it is a fundamental expression of our humanity.

There is a strong moral imperative to celebrate mothers not only on this designated day, but on every other day for as long as our mothers remain with us on this earth. We can disagree about the role of women and mother's in particular towards nation building; however, the common ground remains that, our mothers will continue to serve as that very vital link that connects this nation to security, peace and prosperity.

On this day, NUGS wishes all mothers, A HAPPY AND MEMORABLE MOTHER'S DAY.

Mothers, enjoy today and every other day. Cheers.