Story: Zainabu Issah
The 23rd special Session on the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 drew attention to the large number of rural women working in the informal sector with low levels of income, little job and social security, with low or no access to land or inheritance rights.
It emphasised the need for rural women’s equal access to productive resources such as land, capital, credit and technology, gainful employment and decision-making, as well as access to education and health services.
The Assembly’s resolution 64/140 recognised the crucial role of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, as well as the vital contribution they make to the well being and development of the families and communities.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has consistently addressed issues related to the situation of rural women, and these were equally highlighted in the Commission’s 15-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The important role and contribution of rural women was again emphasised in the General Assembly Council’s 2010 Ministerial Declaration, which called for concerted action to support rural women’s economic empowerment.
To advance these objectives, this year’s Rural Women’s Day celebration was observed on the theme; “Empowerment and the Role of Rural Women in Poverty and Hunger Eradication”.
In Accra, the Farmers Organisation Network in Ghana (FONG) and the Development Action Association (DAA), in collaboration with the United Nations Women, organised a forum to mark the event at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipal Assembly to highlight the need to recognise and change the imbalance between rural and urban women.
Speaking at the celebrations, the Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, said despite the attention given to rural women in international frameworks, women in rural areas continued to face serious challenges in carrying out their multiple roles within their families and communities.
She said their rights and priorities were often not sufficiently addressed by national development strategies adding that, “People’s awareness of women’s roles and gender equality is still limited.”
Furthermore, she said women and girls in rural, ethnic and remote areas were particularly disadvantaged compared to those in urban areas who had better access to education, job opportunities, information and good living standards.
Hajia Boya affirmed the government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment through the implementation of policies and programmes, and said one of the critical strategies that the government was pursuing to eradicate poverty and pave way for sustainable development was ensuring access to basic services for rural women.
She lauded the efforts of rural women and their contribution to local and national economies in the fields of agriculture, including farming, fishing and forestry in addition to household livelihoods.
She said investing in rural women and girls led to progress towards the eradication of poverty and hunger, improving health conditions and achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.
The leader of FONG/DAA, Madam Lydia Sasu, in her remarks said women over the years have had to innovate to reduce hunger and poverty.
She called for support for rural women in the various regions and districts in the country for increased participation in decision-making.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Amasaman, Mr Ebenezer Nii Armah Tackie, said economically, women contributed immensely towards the country’s economic development hence the need to empower women and explore their role in poverty and hunger eradication as well as development challenges.
He said although the informal sector had been recognised as having the potential for providing alternative employment opportunities and providing social benefit towards the country’s developmental efforts, women’s participation in this area had not been satisfactory, adding that “We must go beyond looking at women as home keepers and child bearers, and totally appreciate their involvement in national development”.
The United States Agency for International Development (USIAD) Ghana Mission Director , Ms Cheryl Anderson, in her address said the USAID remained committed to supporting the empowerment of women, especially rural women in Ghana.
She said the agency was currently supporting women’s involvement in the democratic process with the training of queens in advocacy, communications and in leadership to influence policy.
The 23rd special Session on the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 drew attention to the large number of rural women working in the informal sector with low levels of income, little job and social security, with low or no access to land or inheritance rights.
It emphasised the need for rural women’s equal access to productive resources such as land, capital, credit and technology, gainful employment and decision-making, as well as access to education and health services.
The Assembly’s resolution 64/140 recognised the crucial role of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, as well as the vital contribution they make to the well being and development of the families and communities.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has consistently addressed issues related to the situation of rural women, and these were equally highlighted in the Commission’s 15-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The important role and contribution of rural women was again emphasised in the General Assembly Council’s 2010 Ministerial Declaration, which called for concerted action to support rural women’s economic empowerment.
To advance these objectives, this year’s Rural Women’s Day celebration was observed on the theme; “Empowerment and the Role of Rural Women in Poverty and Hunger Eradication”.
In Accra, the Farmers Organisation Network in Ghana (FONG) and the Development Action Association (DAA), in collaboration with the United Nations Women, organised a forum to mark the event at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipal Assembly to highlight the need to recognise and change the imbalance between rural and urban women.
Speaking at the celebrations, the Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, said despite the attention given to rural women in international frameworks, women in rural areas continued to face serious challenges in carrying out their multiple roles within their families and communities.
She said their rights and priorities were often not sufficiently addressed by national development strategies adding that, “People’s awareness of women’s roles and gender equality is still limited.”
Furthermore, she said women and girls in rural, ethnic and remote areas were particularly disadvantaged compared to those in urban areas who had better access to education, job opportunities, information and good living standards.
Hajia Boya affirmed the government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment through the implementation of policies and programmes, and said one of the critical strategies that the government was pursuing to eradicate poverty and pave way for sustainable development was ensuring access to basic services for rural women.She lauded the efforts of rural women and their contribution to local and national economies in the fields of agriculture, including farming, fishing and forestry in addition to household livelihoods.
She said investing in rural women and girls led to progress towards the eradication of poverty and hunger, improving health conditions and achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.
The leader of FONG/DAA, Madam Lydia Sasu, in her remarks said women over the years have had to innovate to reduce hunger and poverty.
She called for support for rural women in the various regions and districts in the country for increased participation in decision-making.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Amasaman, Mr Ebenezer Nii Armah Tackie, said economically, women contributed immensely towards the country’s economic development hence the need to empower women and explore their role in poverty and hunger eradication as well as development challenges.
He said although the informal sector had been recognised as having the potential for providing alternative employment opportunities and providing social benefit towards the country’s developmental efforts, women’s participation in this area had not been satisfactory, adding that “We must go beyond looking at women as home keepers and child bearers, and totally appreciate their involvement in national development”.
The United States Agency for International Development (USIAD) Ghana Mission Director , Ms Cheryl Anderson, in her address said the USAID remained committed to supporting the empowerment of women, especially rural women in Ghana.
She said the agency was currently supporting women’s involvement in the democratic process with the training of queens in advocacy, communications and in leadership to influence policy.
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