Prof. Nana-Akyaa Yao of the National Cardiothoracic Centre and the Department of Child Health of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has called on government and Civil Society to encourage and support the Ghanaian girl-child right from secondary through tertiary education.
Delivering the Keynote Address at this year’s Ghana Women of Excellence Awards Ceremony
Prof. Yao pointed out that, historically, women have been seen as the weaker sex. Describing this as a misnomer and a misrepresentation of the truth, Prof. Yao disclosed that it has been scientifically shown that when it comes to longevity, survival, coping with trauma and stress, women are more robust.
The tragedy, however, according to her, is that women have, intentionally or unintentionally been disadvantaged across the ages in terms of opportunity, privilege and empowerment. Noting that the Ghanaian woman is no exception to this disadvantaged status, Prof. Yao entreated Government to expedite the passage into law of the Affirmative Action Bill which requires 40% representation of women in national governance and public office of power, authority and decision-making.
She stressed that the enactment of the Bill into Law would give meaning to the provision for women’s empowerment in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution which enjoins the State to take appropriate measures to achieve reasonable gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices.
Prof. Yao lamented that although, by and large, all Governments in Ghana’s 4th Republic have set a target of 30% women inclusion, progress towards this target has been rather slow.
She recalled that the UN Sustainable Development Goal Five (SDG5) requires countries to achieve gender parity in decision-making by year 2030. “Now that we are in 2023, this time frame leaves Ghana only seven years to reach the 50% target, so committing our governments to a 40% target now as stipulated in the Affirmative Action Bill is not an outrageous or unrealistic demand but a step in the right direction”, Prof. Yao declared.
Oh his part, former United Nations World Tourism Organisation Consultant, Nana Dr. Baa Wiredu who was the Chairman for the occasion commended the Award Winners for demonstrating beyond doubt excellence and finesse in their various areas of accomplishment.
He hoped that their achievements would spur the generality of Ghanaian women, especially the younger generation, on to greater heights.
The Ghana Women of Excellence Awards Scheme was under the theme:
“Empowering the Ghanaian Women for National Development” with the objective to celebrate the achievements of Ghanaian women, to motivate them to strive for excellence.
19 (nineteen) Ghanaian women were honoured at this year’s Awards Dinner, including: Ms. Joyce Ababio, Chief Executive, JACCD Design Institute Africa (Entrepreneurship/Education (Fashion Design)); Mrs. Adelaide Ahovy Abbiw-Williams, Chief Executive, SES HD Plus Ghana Limited (Satellite Broadcasting); Prof. Mrs. Goski Alabi, Consulting President, Laweh University College (Education/Tertiary); Dr. Mary Ansong, Chief Executive, International Sickle Cell Centre (Healthcare/Sickle Cell Therapy); Ing. Mrs. Gloria Apenkwah, Project Manager, Ghana Airports Company Limited (Building and Construction/Civil Engineering) and Capt. (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, Ghana Armed Forces (National Security/Military).
Other Award Winners were: Mrs. Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Director-General, Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service (Skills Development); Mrs. Dora Awuah, Executive Director, Dora Awuah Foundation (Healthcare/Mental Health); Ms. Sena Dake, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (Accountancy); Rev. Mrs. Surv. Rosemargaret Esubonteng, President Ghana Institution of Surveyors (Built Environment/Surveying); Mrs. Tucci Goka Ivowi, Chief Executive, Ghana Commodity Exchange (Commodity Trading) and Ing. Dr. Mrs. Enyonam Kpekpena, Project Manager, Electricity Company of Ghana (Building and Construction/Electrical Engineering).
The rest are, Mrs. Sheila Yaa Nyantekyiwah Minkah-Premo, Managing Consultant, Apex Law Consult (Legal Profession/Gender Advocacy); Mrs. Akua Owusu-Nartey, Regional Managing Director, Ogilvy Africa (Advertising); Prof. Mrs. Marian Dorcas Quain, Deputy Director-General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Scientific Research); Pharm Mrs. Patience Tsegah, Chief Executive, Unicom Chemist Limited (Healthcare/Pharmacy) and Ms. Nana Yaa Twum, Head of Human Resource, Swissport Ghana Limited (Human Resource Management).
The topmost Award, the Woman of the Year Award, was conferred on Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, who has the distinction of being the first female Vice-Chancellor of Ghana’s premier tertiary institution, the University of Ghana.
