INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – BALANCE FOR BETTER CAMPAIGN
As part of this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8, 2019), the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) in collaboration with the Women in Debate of the University of Ghana Debate Society organized a panel discussion on the theme: Balance for Better campaign which focused on think equal, build smart and innovate for change.
The panel members who discussed the theme provided diverse backgrounds in their own respective fields of expertise. The panelist included: Rev. Dr. Grace Sintim Adasi with the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana; Mr. Kwasi Ohene, Executive Director of Play and Learn Foundation (a non-governmental organization) and Miss Adepa Danso, Chairperson for Women in Debate, University of Ghana Debate Society. Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante, the Director of the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) chaired the occasion.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Wrigley-Asante welcomed all to the International Women’s Day celebration and added that attaining a gender balance is key for ensuring sustainable development in the country. Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive because balance is not just women’s issue, it is a collective issue.
Rev. Dr. Grace Sintim Adasi with the Institute of African Studies talked about empowering girls and women using our religious beliefs. She quoted several examples from the bible that shows the empowering nature of women. She explained that even though women were marginalized in the past within the religious setting and were not allowed to lead congregations, the situation has improved in recent times even though there are still some challenges.
Nana Kwasi Ohene, Executive Director of Play and Learn Foundation brought to bear the need to empower both boys and men to appreciate girls and women’s rights in our communities. Again, in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), he highlighted the importance of engaging more young women in this field. As the STEM field and its structure are inter-connected and inter-related to gender and societal issues, Nana Kwasi encouraged women to participate in this field in order to create inventions which will benefit the society as a whole. He also advised women to support each other and desist from discouraging and defaming themselves.
Miss Adepa Danso, Chairperson for Women in Debate, also added on by arguing that women should cease the opportunity and take advantage of programmes and platforms to highlight their concerns to make their voices heard. According to her, there was the need to encourage young women to be ambitious and take-up leadership roles in their communities.
The programme ended with the Chairperson echoing on the need to re-orient our children both boys and girls to have a mindset of balance from home. According to her, there is the need to intentionally deconstruct and re-construct the mindsets of both boys and girls in the society.
The programme was attended by students, lecturers and staff (mainly the University of Ghana ladies Association).
