Sunyani, Nov 15, GNA - Ms Mawuena Dumor, the Communications Manager of Newmont Gold, has advised women to strive to pursue education to a higher level so they could rub shoulders with their male counterparts on the job market.

She made the call at the inauguration of a Women's Consultative Committee at Kenyasi Number Two in the Asutifi District. The committee, with a membership of 70, comprises two representatives each of some identified religious, formal and non-formal groups.

Ms Dumor said women faced poverty because they lacked the professions with which to enter the job market or to be employed by big companies.

She advised uneducated women to learn a trade to enhance their livelihood and to assist their families financially. Ms Dumor said Newmont Gold, recognising the important role that women played in communities, had placed a 30 percent target workforce for them.

Ms Dumor said the company was working closely with stakeholders and gender based non-governmental organizations to organise educative programmes for women in the mining area. She urged women in employment to be imbued with confidence and work harder to excel at their working places.

Mr Randy Barnes, the External Affairs Manager of Newmont, said the setting up of the committee was aimed at integrating the presence of women in the mining area and to ensure they were given fair opportunities on the job. He said the committee would meet once every month to deliberate on issues affecting women's development and come out with possible solutions.

"Open forums would be organised to get a direct feed back from women."

Madam Mary Mansusu Aduwusu, a 67-year-old retired educationist and moderator of the committee, urged men to support and encourage their wives on the committee to address the concerns of women in mining communities.

She urged members of the committee to use their rich experience to work effectively in fighting for women's rights in Newmont's concession area.