Accra, Dec 4., GNA - A special award event dubbed "Celebrate Ghanaian Woman 2004" is to be organised early next year in recognition of institutions and individuals who have played advocacy roles on women's issues.

Mr Ebenezer Akuaku, Executive Director of Key Advertising, an event management company and organisers of the event, told the Ghana News Agency on Saturday that the award is also to acknowledge the important role women play in the various sectors of the economy. He said the aim of this special ceremony, which is under the theme "Ghanaian Woman, Take Up Your Position in This 21St. Century", is to award deserving women who have excelled in their various fields and organisations

and have played significant roles in promoting women issues within the larger society to encourage other women to take up similar challenges. "It is also the aim of the organisers to encourage the Ghanaian woman to take up more responsible positions, which is a vital key in nation building in the 21st. century by ensuring that younger women get involved in all sectors of society," Mr Akuaku stated.

He said another objective of the "Celebrate Ghanaian Woman 2004" is to bring to the fore the need to respect women in society and acknowledge the important role they play in nation building.

"The organisers will through this awards night use the platform to educate and encourage families to send their girl child to school through which they will be empowered to develop and enhance their skills and be ready to take up higher positions in society."

Mr Akuaku said a day's workshop on "The Importance of a Woman in Nation Building in the 21st. Century would precede the awards night likely to be held in March, 2005.

Selected award winners and respective recognised and deserving institutions would pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Ghana at his office in the morning as a prelude to the main programme scheduled for the evening.

Mr Akuaku told the GNA that judges would be invited from credible institutions to do the selection of award winners from two categories, namely Personal Award and Recognition Award.

Fifteen awards will be presented under the Personal Category while various institutions would receive awards for their roles in promoting women's issues over the past years.

Mr Akuaku said Key Advertising Company expects to fund the project through sponsorship, and appealed to institutions and non-governmental organisations for assistance. 4 Dec 04