Techimantia (B/A), Oct 20, GNA - Mr Nii Naaku Mensah, a Food Rights Policy Advisor for Action Aid, Ghana, has called for the formulation of fair, friendly and favourable policies for women to live economically dignified lives.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark World Rural Women's Day at Techimantia in Brong Ahafo Region, he said it was important for the government to go the extra mile to see the implementation of such policies. He stated that in spite of the vital role that women play in society, they lack the power to secure land rights and access to vital services such as credit, extension services, technical input, training and education. Me Mensah explained: "It is in this light that Action Aid is committed to working with women and other poor and vulnerable persons in rural communities in our quest to reduce poverty the world over." He attributed poverty among women to unfair national and international policies, cultural practices, non participation in decision-making processes, poor access to fertile land and other issues. The Day celebrated the important role women, the world over, play in ensuring food security and in the development and stability of rural communities.

In his welcoming address, Mr. James K. Boama, Senior Programme Officer, Action Aid, Ghana, said the Rural Women's Day was considered a practical way of obtaining recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women, who were mostly farmers and small entrepreneurs. Additionally, the day provides rural women and their organisations a platform to raise their profile; sensitise both the government and the public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognised roles; and to fight the inequalities and prejudices against women. Ms Dorothy Kondau, Policy Advisor, Education, urged the parents to endeavour to regularly monitor the attendance to school of their children, and to ensure effective collaboration with teachers to guarantee their good education.

She advised parents not to spend their resources only on their male children but also on their daughters as the progress of the nation depended equally on the education of girls and boys. Speaking on Violence, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kweku Amoako, Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), expressed concern about sexual violence and physical assault, saying it was on the ascendancy in the region. He called for an end to those crimes and other forms of maltreating women. On Women's Role in Agriculture, Mrs Joyce Takyi Kemevor, Sunyani West District Director of Agriculture, said women were exposed to risky and hazardous working conditions in their daily attempt to provide food supplements and yet gained little for their efforts. She said since a greater proportion of rural women were engaged in agriculture, it was prudent for the government to supply them with easy-to-use and less sophisticated farm machinery for their activities. Mrs. Takyi called on parents to invest in the education of their children, especially the girls, instead of using them as farm hands. She also encouraged women to be part of the decision making process at all levels.

Nana Oti Ampem II, Chief of Techimantia, appealed to the Action Aid to provide them with financial assistance in the form of loans to expand their businesses in Techimantia. Earlier, the chief inspected an exhibition of assorted soap, and oil products manufactured by the women with the support of Action Aid and other partners. 20 Oct. 09