A women’s rights activist has challenged Ghanaian women to defend and protect Ghanaian family values as their contribution to the building of a resilient and humane society.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mrs Leticia Boakye said rights are tools for empowering women to contribute meaningfully to a loving home in which well cultured and patriotic children are nurtured.

She asked women to discard the old notion that only men have the responsibility to take care of the home, adding: “The task taking care of the home is a shared task and that women should happily do their bit.”

Mrs Boakye, who is also a patroness of the Young Urban Women Project, advice women not to rush into divorce and single motherhood since that could destabilise the society.

Action Aid Ghana is partnering the Ark foundation, Ghana to implement the project which is sponsored by the Norwegian Development Agency.

The two and a half year project seeks to mobilise and empower 2000 young women from 15-25 years in poor urban and peri-urban areas in Ghana.

It is formulated on four thematic areas which are Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Decent Work and Livelihood Choices, Violence against Women and Unpaid Care Work (household chores).

“Our children need both parents to develop properly. A man physical make up should not delude him into molesting his wife and a woman should not misconstrue love and respect for her husband as servitude. It will always take the two to make a home.”

She commended ActionAid Ghana for training the young women in the Ga West Municipality adding: “They are creating a generation of wise and productive women who are ceased with skills and knowledge to change their societies for the better.”