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Pro-female groups ask for
monument to honour women's contributions
Accra, March 8, GNA - Three women's coalitions have appealed
to the government and the people to raise a monument in
honour of women in recognition of their contributions to the
pre- and post-independence struggles.
"We note that the 50th anniversary celebrations, while
recollecting the roles of key figures and various social
groups in our pre-and post-independence struggles, have not
adequately recognized or honoured the contributions of
women," a joint statement issued on Wednesday by three
groups to mark International Women's Day which falls on
Thursday said.
"A monument to women would be in order and we urge the
government and people of Ghana to take up this proposal,"
Network for Women's Right (NETRIGHT), National Coalition on
Domestic Violence Legislation and the Coalition on the
Women's Manifesto said in their statement.
"Even more importantly, the contributions of women should
become recognized as a central part of our history rather
than a footnote," they said.
The coalitions congratulated the many forgotten heroines for
their sacrifices and immense contributions to the founding
of Ghana and the 50 years journey to build an independent
country and an equal and just society.
The coalitions said they had added cause to celebrate the
passage of the Domestic Violence Bill into law.
They said although this was not the only panacea to "the
destructive and deadly grip of domestic violence (it)
represents a preliminary step to end impunity for domestic
violence and offer protection to all who are victimized by
it".
They lauded women and children who shared their stories of
violence, abuse and survival for work to begin on the draft
legislation.
They also commended those who fought tirelessly for the law
to be passed and the parliamentary committee for their work.
"We call upon the President to act in the same spirit and to
sign the law into effect without further delay."
The Coalitions noted that issues ranging from women's low
participation in governance, poor access to resources
critical for livelihoods and the unacceptably high rates of
maternal mortality and violence against women, which had
been demanded in the colonial period, continued to be made
today.
"In today's Ghana, women are in the majority in the
survivalist sections of the informal economy and regularly
experience livelihood insecurities and state harassment.
"Women continue to do the bulk of housework and related
functions without adequate social support in the form of
child support, day care centres and labour saving devices.
"Women continue to be poorly represented in politics and in
public and in many spheres of decision making..."
The Coalition noted that the current economic dispensation
of "competing for scarce resources" raised fundamental
questions about the implementation of any gender specific
law or policy, including the Domestic Violence Law.
"We call upon the people of Ghana to look critically at the
advances made in our history ... as a means of charting a
concrete independent, equal, self-sustaining and
collectivist path for the future vision of Ghana, Africa and
all nations," the statement said.
It said the country must seize the Golden opportunity
provided by the Golden Jubilee to begin to make a real
difference in the lives of ordinary women in Ghana.
GNA
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