Cape Coast, July 29, GNA - The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor on Tuesday called on African women to use the celebration of Panafest/Emancipation day to rededicate themselves to the traditions and values around them over the last 500 years and more.

She regretted that the "distortion of a number of these values, particularly with the invasion of European culture and economic exploitation, has marginalized women's knowledge and agency".

Mrs Kufuor made the call in an address read for her at a 'women's day' forum held at the University of Cape Coast, as part of activities marking the celebration of Panafest/Emancipation 2003.

The theme for the day was: "Traditional and cultural values of the African woman in the 21st century". The forum brought together about 500 women from Ghana, the United States and Nigeria.

Mrs Kufuor observed that in spite of the technological advancement in western countries, "they are careful to vigilantly guard important icons of their history through well funded museums, libraries and festivals".

The First Lady said African women had a great deal at stake in the discussion to protect their cultural and traditional values.

"In the 21st century, it may be tempting to succumb to the view that poor African women caught up in the vicious cycle of hunger, disease and ignorance, of modern technologies, are living proof that African culture and values are irrelevant, if not down right inimical", she observed.

She said as a health professional herself, she often battled with the idea that some of the traditional ways of doing things may be affecting the physical and mental health of women. However, it could be equally argued that it is the African tradition and values, which have strengthened and sustained women in slavery for example.

Mrs Kufuor charged the participants to take advantage of the remarkable opportunity offered by the festival, to come out with positive suggestions about what they should do with the indigenous knowledge and values, they have inherited.

Mrs Kufuor paid tribute to Madam Efua Sutherland, whose original ideas sowed the seed for Panafest, focusing "our minds on our past, present and future through our powerfully moving artistic traditions". She said she was happy that the festival had grown much greater and wider than those original ideas, and stressed the need for more people to apply their minds and creativity to the re-emergence and unification of the African family.

"Indeed, we in Ghana are doing our best to meet the inspirational reputation which our country had gained in the community of Africans all over the world".

She also paid tribute to women like Mabel Dove Danquah, whose defiant role in journalism in the 1940s and 50s, is recognised as contributing greatly to the anti-colonial struggle.

In her address, Professor Mansah Pra, head of the Sociology Department of the UCC, reiterated the need for Africa women to study their various tradition and values and to resist those that endanger their health and retard their progress.

She observed that most of the traditions and values, favoured men than women, and urged women to strive to reverse the situation.

Mrs Malaika Fakhr, an African-American business executive, told the forum, that she was organising educational and health programmes for some women groups in the country, in order to enhance their health, and also to enable them to step up their socio-economic activities. Mr Kojo Yankah, Executive Director of Panafest said the women's day, was the first of a series of fora slated for the celebration, "because the festival was born by a woman".

Other speakers at the forum were Dr Ruth Love, an African-American and Dr. Irene Odotei of the University of Ghana. Miss Victoria Williams of AME Zion JSS recited a poem entitled "Obaapa" which highlighted the important roles and values of a woman in the society.