Rev Kweku Addo’s Message On International Women’s Day

Today marks another milestone in the lives of our women as the world connects to observe the International Women’s Day (IWD), which is anchored on the theme: “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

The theme is inspirational as it presents another opportunity for us, especially the leadership - socio-economic and religious leaders and political rulers - to take stock of the past and present celebrations as far as women’s empowerment is concerned.

About a century ago, a handful of women took a forest of actions worldwide to be recognised as partners in decision-making. Today, despite the limited number of women in various positions of leadership, their struggle for equal rights is placed on the world agenda.

In the early 80s, our women in Ghana took part in the global struggle for women empowerment. This global struggle, extended to our part of the world, yielded substantial dividend as women’s issues eventually took a centre stage of national discourse. Today, the result is that as many more women get appointments, so others get elected in positions such as Ministers of state, Chief Executive Officers of state corporations, Chief Justice, Security Capos and running mates to presidential candidates.

I join the world to salute Ghanaian women, especially the hardworking women of Ablekuma West Constituency irrespective of their religious and political backgrounds for their outstanding roles they play in our lives for a fairly just society.

I value education of women, especially girls as crucial investment we must take seriously. As the World Bank clearly puts it, investment in the education of a girl child is a prerequisite for national growth. We need to be proactive addressing these challenges.

As the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress for Ablekuma West, aspiring to be elected as a legislator in the august house of Ghana’s Parliament, I acknowledge Ghana has made a steady progress over the years in respect of gender parity, although the pace at which we fight inequalities and violence against women is slow.

Though some women are excelling in their field of endeavours, setting as role models for young generation, others are failing so badly that they are virtually eroding the efforts of their leaders to realise their goal. These women ought to hold in high esteem the leadership positions they occupy and use them for the betterment of the communities they lead as leaders.

I hold the view that a civil character of a society starts from the home, because a stable family gives birth to honest citizens and these are the values of lives on which equality thrives and the empowerment of women becomes possible.

As an African educationist from Ghana - James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey - beautifully put it, if you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a society.

Ayekoo Women of Ghana!
Ayekoo Women of Ablekuma West!!
REV KWEKU ADDO, NDC
PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE
ABLEKUMA WEST, ACCRA.