The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has launched the Ghana version of the “Unifying Campaign” aimed at closing the gender gap in Africa.
The campaign, launched in Accra on Monday, forms part of the strategic measures to fight for gender equality and ensure that girls and women contribute their quota to the development of Africa and Ghana in particular.
Being run on the theme: “#WeAreEqual,” the campaign brings together African first ladies, partners, and allies to advance gender equity and close the gender gap across the continent.
The Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) is leading the year-long campaign and the first ladies would work together to dismantle the barriers that hold women and girls back in health, education, women’s economic empowerment, and gender-based violence.
The campaign hopes to create health care, education, economic opportunities, and freedom from violence and inequality.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo encouraged policymakers to accelerate the implementation of existing policies within the ministries and agencies to ensure that gender was truly a crosscutting theme that ran through strategies and programmes.
“The fight for gender equality is an age-old one. Sadly, it is a fight that has not been won. Even though the global gender gap has been narrowing, we need a lot more urgency and action to make a very significant impact,” she said.
“When women and girls, representing about half of our society, have equal access to health, education, and skills and are free from gender-based violence, they can contribute their quota to the development of our nation”.
The First Lady also urged all stakeholders, especially social media influencers, to use their platforms to promote gender equity in health, economic empowerment and livelihoods, education, decision-making, and development in general.
“To all influencers, your voices go far. Use your platforms to promote gender equity. Our expectation is that this campaign will achieve intensified awareness, effective stakeholder engagement, stronger policy commitments, and increased media attention on closing the gender gap.”
The event was attended by dignitaries including Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Professor Amin Alhassan, the Director General (DG) of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, DG, of Ghana Aids Commission, and Dr. Beatrice Addai Wiafe, Chief Executive Officer, of Peace, and Love Hospitals among others.