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21.09.2004 General News

Three women honoured

21.09.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - The Women's Commission of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Tuesday honoured three women who distinguished themselves in various fields of national development at a ceremony in Accra.

They were Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Her Excellency, Kazuko Asai, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana and Nana Frimpomaa II, Dwantoahemaa of Dormaa Traditional area.

Each of them received a certificate of honour and a plague with a citation showing the areas in which they had excelled. Mrs Jennifer Boafo-Awuah of the Japan Embassy received the award on behalf of the Ambassador.

Mrs Asmah's citation read in part: "All Hail! Mother of Mothers, Sister of Sisters, Wife of Wives, Woman of Women, The first bearer of a new name -Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs. Under your able and dynamic leadership, a new Ministry has seen phenomenal growth and evolved into a Ministerial giant transforming the hills of women and children and helping build stronger family ties."

"Thanks for your holistic and humane attitude to the development of children and youth in fulfillment of your social responsibilities," were citations accompanying Nana Frimpomaa's plague.

That of Her Excellency Kazuko Asai read: " You are a challenge to the international community and have left indelible footprints worth following. Your excellent attitude is reflected in your contribution towards the women and people of Ghana".

In response, Mrs Asmah said she dedicated the award to her second constituency - the women of Ghana and congratulated the Women's Commission for the honour done to them.

She said the award was an encouragement to her personally and promised to do more to help women overcome the numerous problems facing them.

She said apart from her background as a social worker for many years, the thoughts and experiences she had about women's plights, the marginalisation, poverty and deprivation they go through have shaped her understanding of women's plights and their psychological and financial needs.

"I wish on my behalf and on behalf of all the women of Ghana to accept this award with humility and dedication."

Miss Vida Agyekum, Women's Commissioner, NUGS, said the award would give reason to other people in positions of trust to brighten the corner where they might find themselves.

She said Ghanaian students were learning to honour their own women who had excelled in their various fields of endeavour through discipline and hard work.

"We have learnt to honour them whilst they still live to encourage them to strive harder and be life symbols of encouragement and comfort to the willing majority."

Miss Agyekum noted that through the "stubborn" will of Mrs Asmah to succeed, the gender and early childhood care development policy documents had seen the light of the day.

Through her instrumentality, Her Excellency, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana; the women development fund had been given a firm footing while many students had seen smiles on their faces because of the care and distinct, compassionate and motherly attention Nana Frimpomaa II gave to the youth, she said.

"Being women achievers, we are particularly keen to commend you because the challenge of the woman today is to prove her worth to the whole world and we cannot afford to disappoint."

She appealed to civil society groups, agencies, departments and the ministries to have the youth at heart and direct some of their activities at them.

"I equally throw a challenge to the next government of the people of Ghana not only to pay lip service to the issues of gender but to demonstrate the commitment through their appointment, policies and programmes."

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