This is because entrenched inequalities in homes and communities shaped by socialisation, power dynamics and political structures continued to limit opportunities for many women and vulnerable groups to contribute to community and national development. 

Ms Fathiyat Numbo Mohammed, a Gender Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Specialist, stated this at a community event at Paase in the Wa West District to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. 

The event, organised by World Vision Ghana (WVG) under the theme “Give to Gain”, brought together community members and key stakeholders to discuss the importance of women’s empowerment in driving community and national development. 

International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while advocating gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. 

The celebration was preceded by a float through the principal streets of the community to create awareness of the occasion. 

Ms Mohammed explained that the theme for the 2026 celebration was intended to shift societal attitudes from charity-based support for women to recognising the shared benefits of inclusive development. 

“We must ensure that every person, including women, has unhindered access to opportunities and is fairly represented in decision-making processes,” she said. 

In a related address, Ms Faustina-Hilda Nuah, Gender Desk Officer at the Wa West District Assembly, underscored the vital role of rural women in national development and called for sustained efforts to empower them. 

She identified key challenges confronting women in the district, including limited access to education and economic constraints, which restrict their effective participation in decision-making and development activities. 

Ms Nuah noted that low levels of female education continued to dampen the aspirations of young girls, as some parents prioritised domestic responsibilities and early marriage over formal education. She stressed the need for sustained interventions to address these challenges and promote inclusive development in rural communities. 

Some women who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, expressed appreciation to World Vision Ghana for its interventions, which they said had improved school enrolment and retention among their children. 

They also acknowledged improvements in agricultural production through WVG support but cited limited access to markets as a major challenge. 

Madam Bambo Asomah, a community member, said women in the area struggled to sustain their incomes and support their children’s education, particularly during the dry season, due to the lack of alternative livelihood opportunities. 

She therefore appealed for the provision of an irrigation facility to enable women to engage in dry-season vegetable farming to improve household incomes.