Ghana’s First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo has acknowledged that “equality before the law” has still not translated into actuality with regards to issues of gender.
According to her, although gender gaps in enrollment and achievement in education and other professions have seen some progress, it has not yet translated satisfactorily into women’s equal participation in both the formal and informal labor force.
Speaking at a forum in Kumasi on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, to mark the year’s International Women’s Day celebration, on the theme; ‘Break the Biases’, she said “we have made substantial progress when it comes to education however gender disparities still remain”. Simply put, gender equality before the law still does not translate into reality.
She further expressed her frustration over how the gender disparities continue unchanged despite the enormous workforce of women in societies.
“Women are still paid less than men for the same work. Yes, their contributions to society is enormous. African women form the majority of farmers, educationists and health care providers” she lamented.
The First Lady used the opportunity to call on Ghanaian women to lead the front line as advocates against these biases because they are “abnormal”, a situation she said are setbacks to the community.
She added that “no amount of explanations, apologies or excuses can make it right”, therefore, she believes that it is time for her generation to pass on the baton to the younger ones and rally their support to the crusade for gender equality and the removal of biases.
Madam Rebecca Akufo-Addo, while citing a popular saying by American Civil Rights activist, Philip Randolph, “freedom is never granted; it is won”, she indicated she has no doubt about the ability and hunger of Ghanaian women to do so in their advocacy.
