“We particularly commend all men who have joined the quest for a just society where men and women work side by side to ensure national development,” Ms Comfort Asare, Director Department Gender stated in Accra to mark the International Women’s Day.

The United Nation’s Global theme for 2017 International Women’s Day (IWD) focuses on: “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030”.

The theme also focuses on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action including the achievements and challenges that affect implementation of gender equality and women’s empowerment.  Ghana has adopted the general theme: “Economic Empowerment of Rural Women: A Tool for Sustainable Development in a Changing World of Work”.

According to the Gender Ministry, national theme seeks to focus on the rural woman whose invaluable contribution to national development is often neglected despite the obstacles that confront her. 

The statement said: “Rural women contribute significantly to the growth and economic development of every country and yet their efforts are often less appreciated in national development.

“Ghana has chosen the theme to demonstrate the Gender Ministry’s and the new government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s commitment to help rural women and girls to achieve their ambitions.

“The negative traditional and socio-cultural practices; call for gender-balanced leadership; value every woman and man's contribution equally; and create inclusive flexible cultures in line with the focus of the international community.

“Evidently, today's women, particularly rural women, are doing extremely well and supporting all sectors of society aside the odds and limitations.   “Women have indeed come far and would go miles when given recognition and opportunities to develop their full potentials in the Ghanaian society.

“As we observe this day, the Ministry of Gender, Children and social Protection would like to urge all Ghanaians to join in the global campaign; “Be Bold for Change”. “We urge all Ghanaians to be bold to challenge the discrimination and difficulties that confront the rural women by changing the world of work around them.

“Doing this, calls for concrete actions that raises awareness about the invaluable contributions of all women and girls, particularly rural women and girls in Ghana. “Today therefore, presents us with the opportunity to actively engage women and girls at all levels; political, social and economic spheres, including those in the rural areas who are often forgotten in national development in a more gender inclusive manner.

“Women’s contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Ghana cannot be over-emphasized. The Gender Ministry said: “The social and economic well-being of women as mothers, traders, farmers, nurses and public sector workers has evolved throughout the centuries. Women have also been instrumental in decision-making and public life in Ghana”.    

March 8, is a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) globally to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women the world over.  The occasion is further used to draw the world’s attention to areas requiring further action, and the need to accelerate gender parity.  The commemoration of the day again is intended to remind government, policy makers and stakeholders of their key roles in translating the theme into a reality and to rally support for women towards a common goal of ensuring their empowerment.

International Women’s Day was first celebrated by the United Nations in 1975. Since the year 1996, a global theme is always proposed by the United Nations to mark the celebrations.  Member states are however encouraged to domesticate this global theme in accordance with their national developmental agendas. To this end, Ghana, as a member of the UN, has being commemorating the day year on.