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Ghana wins Africa Gender Awards

Xinhua, July 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Ghana's efforts in advancing economic and social rights of women through empowering women and mainstreaming gender issues in national development has received recognition on the continent.

At the ongoing Africa Union (AU) summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Ghana received the Africa Gender Awards for these efforts, the Presidency said in a statement here late Monday.

"Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Tetteh received the African Gender Award on the country's behalf at the Kigali Summit of the African Union," the statement announced.

The African Gender Scorecard sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), measures the performance of gender equality and women's empowerment.

The release revealed that Ghana was scored with other countries on social, economic, political and civil rights.

The government said Ghana, under President John Dramani Mahama, has been working to lift the economic rights of women with the enhancement of small loans for market women and traders, increase in the benefits under the Livelihood Enhancement Against Poverty (LEAP) program and continues to ensure equitable representation of women in the government.

The Affirmative Action Bill has been approved by Cabinet and waiting for parliamentary approval to serve as an additional intervention to advance the frontiers of gender equality and female empowerment in Ghana, added the statement.

In his capacity as Co-Chair of the UN Eminent Persons on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Ghana President Jogn Dramani Mahama is expected to host a special working session at the ongoing AU summit for heads of state on the attainment of the goals within the framework of the African Union's Agenda 2063. Endit