Akim Oda (E/R), July 5, GNA - Mr Gilbert K. Germain, Executive Director of Young and Lonely Foundation, Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization, has stressed the need for policy makers to link issues concerning women with development.

Mr Germain urged women advocacy groups to intensify policy education on the fight to reduce poverty, adding that this would afford Ghanaians the opportunity to appreciate and understand key issues like the state of the woman in the fight against poverty. The Executive Director was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, shortly after a programme to review the status of women in the country, organized by the Young and Lonely Foundation, Ghana at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region.

Other programmes being pursued by the Swedru-based NGO include "=C4id for Child Development Project" and 93Women Empowerment".

Mr Germain pointed out that it was about time the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs focused on its core mandate of formulating and influencing national policies in the interest of women and children.

According to the Director, the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy had not considered the development of women, who constituted a significant percentage of the poor, hence making poverty alleviation very difficult to achieve.

He, therefore, urged the government to formulate policies that would improve and develop the rural women to take up leadership roles in their respective communities.