Nkoranza (B/A), April 16, GNA - The Nkoranza Queen-mothers Association appealed for financial and logistic support to embark on an educational campaign in the communities purposely to promote girls' education. The association said such support would also help members to fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as domestic violence against women to enhance the development of women in the Nkoranza traditional area.

The Association made the appeal at an executive meeting held at the weekend at the palace of Omanhemaa (Queen-mother), Nana Yaa Dudaa Kani, who is President of the Association. Mr. Mustapha Yeboah, Chief Executive Officer of Centre of Posterity Interest Organisation (COPIO), a Techiman-based NGO, commended the Queen-mothers for their foresight and initiative to come together to help improve the living standards of women in the area. He said a survey conducted by the United Nations on activities and conditions of women in Ghana in 1997 revealed that about 51 per cent of them were constantly harassed by men, thus preventing them from enjoying their freedom and peace. The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) appealed to African Women Development Fund (AWDF) to assist and encourage the Association on the educational programmes to let the women know more about their rights and responsibilities.

Nana Kani urged parents to reduce their expenditure on clothes, funerals and other social activities and rather invest in their children's education, without discriminating between the boys and girls.

She deplored the discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS and advised against such stigmatization so that such persons would not feel dejected in life. Nana Owusuaa Ayiwa, Queen mother of Sikaa and secretary of the Association, called on Nkoranza citizens abroad to consider the plight of women in the traditional area and support them financially.