A former member of the Council of State on Thursday commended President J.A. Kufuor for creating the new Ministry of Women's Affairs.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA at Kade, Mrs Mercy Owusu-Nimo, who is a member of the National Commission on Women and Development (NCWD), said the creation of the ministry, with cabinet ranking, is a big step forward in the fight for women's empowerment and emancipation.

She called on women and all men of goodwill to support the government's initiative and give a new direction to the effort to empower women to play their rightful role in the affairs of the nation.

Mrs Owusu-Nimo also lauded the new emphasis the government is placing on girl-child education by appointing an additional minister of state to be responsible for that sector.

She said the fight for women's emancipation would come to naught if women do not have sound education, adding that the impetus being given to girl education will give equal opportunities to girls to develop their potentials.