The African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) on Saturday held a gender equity advocacy walk and products exhibition in Accra to create awareness on the contribution of women to national development.
Companies that exhibited that products included Faith Ventures with Christian books and products, Sotea with beverages, and Selasie Farms and Groceries with packaged foods, Winamzua with African jewellery as well as Tsease Village, Allanblackia Sonkyi, Shea Laam, My Hair Organics, and Ele Agbe Company Limited, with cosmetics and hair care products.
The step was in commemoration of this year's International Women's Day on the theme, "Balance for Better".
Mrs Rosemary Mills-Robertson, the Vice President of AWEP in her welcome address advised all women entrepreneurs who sought for trade opportunities to join the Programme for their capacities to be built in finance, business plan, and development of their businesses.
She said among other activities the Programme considered were advocacy and outreach to empower women and young people in entrepreneurship and fighting for their rights.
The global theme for celebration, she said was appropriate and therefore, the AWEP was going to join hands with all women to achieve gender balanced results in all situations.
Mrs Mills-Robertson, congratulated all women irrespective of age, race, social status and situation for waking up and facing each day's challenges.
"In a world that traditionally relegated women to the background, it has never been so important to preach and practice respect in political and economic recognition and that is exactly what AWEP seeks to do today," she said.
"We must recognise and celebrate each other as women. All our achievements in the social, political, economic, and cultural should be celebrated," she added.
She called for a collaboration between women entrepreneurs, saying: "As we have for a longer period been unable to come together to share experiences, inspire, teach, learn, and support one another".
For gender balance to be achieve, Mrs Mills-Robertson urged all women entrepreneurs to speak with a united voice without abandoning the uniqueness of everyone's experiences.
"For many times, women have proved that they are not equally as capable as men- be it in business or in politics. Yet despite this, women are terribly under represented and underpaid...This year's initiative is aimed at achieving gender equality and promoting greater awareness of discrimination against women," she said.