"Let us be part of the change in Ghana, change that will place the welfare of the woman first, empower us to realize our dreams and help us execute them through the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection," she said in a statement to mark this year's International Women’s Day.

A copy of the statement made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani said the global theme for the 2017 celebration is "Women in the changing world of work: planet 50-50 by 2030".

But, Ghana has chosen to mark the day under the theme "'Economic empowerment of rural women: A tool for sustainable development in a changing world of work".     The United Nations set aside March 8, as the International Women's Day, celebrated globally every year to reflect and recgonise progress made by women in nation building.

Mrs Karikari observed that to achieve gender equality, rights and empowerment of women, it was imperative on women to stand firm with a common voice to pursue self-defense and "salvage the pride of womanhood".

"NPP women's wing entreats women to endeavor to rally behind President Nana Akufo-Addo to deliver the much awaited change we're all calling for," She added. "We believe this will end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere, a change that will eliminate all forms of violence and other types of exploitation as well, and end all harmful practices such as child and forced marriages and female genital mutilation".