Nkawkaw, Aug 18, GNA - The Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, Mrs Gladys Asmah, has said the government will continue to empower women so they can contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. She said the ministry's vision is to implement policies that will redeem women from the shackles of poverty.

Mrs Asmah said this in an address read on her behalf at the end of a four-day Northern Sector Women's Convention of the Apostolic Church of Ghana on Sunday.

She said though the average Ghanaian woman is enterprising and constitutes the mainstay of the informal and the rural economy they are the most affected by poverty and deprivation in the society. Mrs Asmah expressed regret that a greater percentage of the women population is characterised by illiteracy, lack of employable skills, poverty and outmoded cultural practices, making them to be regarded as "second degree citizens" in some communities.

She said God created a woman as a man's helper and "not as a slave" and appealed to men to assist women to develop their skills to enable them to contribute to the nation's development.

The Minister advised the women to reflect on their way of life and said the desire for wealth without hard work is a factor resulting in the high rate of immorality and indiscipline in the country.

The National Women's Secretary of the Church, Mrs Hanna Agyeman, appealed to church members to continue to pray for peace and stability during this "turbulent and dark" period in the nation's history.

In an address read on his behalf the Omanhene of Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, advised Christians to use part of their preaching period to educate the youth on the HIV/AIDS pandemic to reduce the spread of the disease in the country.