Press Statement for Immediate Release: International Women’s Day.
The National Peace Council joins the world to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2022.
This year’s theme “Gender Equality Today for Sustainable Tomorrow – Breaking the Bias,” is a reflection of the awareness on how the World can engage the global citizens to play an effective role in eliminating biases that limit the progress of women and girls for many years.
As we commemorate this day we should also reflect on the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in creating a more equitable world today for a sustainable future, and highlights the gaps that remain. It is time to celebrate and reflect on progress made on women’s rights and a day to call for an end to gender inequality.
According to the 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census, women make up about 50.7% of the population and therefore ought to be equally represented at the decision-making table.
The Council recognizes the effective participation of women in leadership within the public and private sectors in Ghana. We acknowledge that the number of women parliamentarians has increased minimally in Ghana’s Parliament. The 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic has forty women representing 14.55% compared to 10.55% and 13.8% in the 6th and 7th Parliaments respectively.
Similarly, the National Peace Council has taken steps to increase the representation of women on its Governing Board of the Council. Currently, women constitute 23% of the Governing Board of the National Peace Council as compared to 7% each on the previous Governing Boards. The Peace Council will continue to make efforts to increase the representation of women on all its Regional Councils.
The Peace Council appreciates the varied contributions of Ghanaian Women towards national development, including peacebuilding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
Such efforts should also be directed at building violence-free homes and society by advocating total elimination of all forms of gender-based violence as well as domestic violence.
The Council wishes to also encourage Ghanaian women to participate actively at all levels of governance to enhance deliberations and formulation of policies that address gender biases and make society better. This is one sure way of achieving Gender Equality and breaking the bias against women.
The Council respectfully appeals to all people of Ghana to continue to support women, who are the critical actors in peace-building, to help promote peaceful co- existence in our country.
God bless our homeland Ghana.
SIGNED
GEORGE AMOH
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
