The women’s wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has joined women groups around the world to observe the International Women’s Day (IWD) with a message to governments and state agencies to create an environment that supports the growth of women.

The regional women’s wing recognizes the critical role and the contribution of women to the economic, social and political successes of the world and wants all barriers and other forms of stereo-types removed to enable them fully grow their potential, perform better in their roles and maximize their contribution.

The wing which celebrates the day on the theme, “I am Generation Equality; Realizing Women’s Rights”, wants governments around the world to expedite actions on policies and programs that would empower women, make them active in decision-making and give them equal opportunities.

In a statement signed by the regional organizer, Georgina Ayamba, and released Sunday, the wing said “As we celebrate this crucial day, we call for gender equality at work places, gender equality governments, gender equality media coverage and more gender equality in health and wealth for a healthier, wealthier and more harmonious world.

On this note, I urge my fellow women in various facets of life to challenge the status-quo in our fight against bias, stereotypes, gender-based violence, child marriages and economic injustice.

We shall not relent on our quest for gender equality as we work in synergy to tackle the persistent barriers to gender equality”.

The wing urged women, especially those in the rural areas, to standup against all forms of violence against them. It directed women to lodge complaints of such violence with the police administration for appropriate actions to be taken.

The wing commended the government of Ghana for some of its policies and programs that have hugely been beneficial to women.

It said the successful introduction and implementation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme by the government has drastically reduced the financial burden on women who take care of their wards education and has also afforded thousands of female children across the country access to secondary education.

On the government’s intervention in Agriculture with its flagship Planting for Food and Jobs policy, the statement said; “Fellow women, under the planting for food and jobs, over 20,000 rural women in the Upper East Region benefited from subsidized fertilizer and inputs that increased their yields and enhanced their livelihoods. We hope to expand this to cover more rural women in the coming farming season”.

The wing noted the success the purchase and distribution of ambulances by government to all 270 constituencies has achieved in the health sector, saying it has significantly helped reduce maternal mortality particularly in the region. It said the ambulances have curbed instances whereby pregnant women die due to the lack of ambulances to cart them to health facilities for safe delivery.

It commended the NPP government for remaining resolute in the economic and political emancipation of women, assuring in the country that government will remain committed to its pro-poor programs and policies which have been tailored to address the difficulties of women in the country.

For the empowerment of women with loan facilities under MASLOC, the School Feeding Program, the One Village One Dam policy, 30% political appoints for women, the statement said; “Government continues to disburse loans under MASLOC to women entrepreneurs’ to undertake economic ventures to improve their livelihoods.

Colleague women, the government over the period has engaged more women caterers under the Ghana school feeding programs which have had great impact on their families.

The construction of One-Village-One-Dam across the five regions of the north has afforded women the opportunity of engaging in all year round farming that has drastically reduced the rural-urban migration of women and its attendant dangers.

The reservation of 30% political appointments for women at the central and decentralize government structures for inclusive good governance is evident of women empowerment at all spheres of life.

Dear colleagues, it is my conviction that, the above policies and programs have contributed greatly to addressing gender inequality amongst women, however let’s admonished our governments to improve our situations and create a gender equal world”.