The Ministry of Women\'s Affairs would create avenues for more women to become self-employed and politically empowered, Mrs Gladys Asmah, the sector Minister said on Tuesday.

She said steps would be taken to pass laws to support women\'s development through public advocacy and business promotion.

Mrs Asmah was speaking during a courtesy call by the United States Ambassador, Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson.

The meeting was to explore ways of collaboration and assistance to the new Ministry.

She said the ministry would collaborate with the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) and the Department of Community Development at the district level to implement programmes aimed at raising the status of women.

The ministry\'s activities she said would be a departure from the old social welfare approach to real economic empowerment.

\"My Ministry\'s mission is to champion the cause of all women in Ghana through the promotion of gender equality to achieve economic empowerment of women.\"

She said the Ministry is mapping out strategies to collaborate with other Ministries to ensure that gender issues are given the emphasis it deserves.

Ms Dee Robinson pledged her government\'s support for the new ministry and said the issue of women and girls\' empowerment is dear to the US government.

She assured the Minister of her government\'s preparedness to support the capacity building of the staff of the ministry.