March 11, 2016

WiLDAF slams gov’t for ignoring women in Economic Advisory Council
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) Ghana has slammed the government for not including women on the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) set up by the government on Tuesday.

According to WiLDAF, there are competent women economists who can serve on the council, saying it is not only men who have the wisdom to advise the President on economic issues.

The National Programme Coordinator of WiLDAF Ghana, Ms Bernice Sam stated this at the launch of the Rural Empowerment Programme in Accra, yesterday.

She added the government has failed woefully to honour its promises made to the Ghanaian women in the last general elections.

The Rural Empowerment Programme has been initiated by the WiLDAF-West Africa Office and funded by the Millennium Development Goal three (MDG3) Fund, an initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The programme aims at contributing to the realization of the MDG3, which is to “eliminating gender disparity at all levels” and the beneficiary countries are Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.

The programme is being piloted in Sege and Amasaman both in the Greater Accra Region and expected to benefit 50 women in these areas.

Ms Sam observed that despite women contribution in agriculture, especially women in rural areas, they continue to encounter serious violations of their rights in their communities.

These she mentioned forced marriage, female genital mutilation, levirate, violence against women, among others.

Ms. Sam indicated that “In order to maximize the chances to achieve the MDGs, it is therefore important to ensure that women effectively enjoy their rights that are recognized to them.

This is only possible if they know these rights and demand their respect by individuals and government officials who are responsible for the implementation of basic human rights”.

The National Women’s Leader of Farmers Organisation Network in Ghana (FONG), Mrs. Lydia Sasu, whose organization is collaborating with the WiLDAF Ghana to roll out the programme, noted that women form the bulk of agricultural labour in the world.

Ghanadot