The Executive Director of Henry Djaba Foundation, Otiko Afisa Djaba, says lack of enforcement is preventing Ghana from implementing protocols and conventions that the country has signed.
According to her, Ghana signs conventions but can’t implement them in reality.
“Ghana has signed a lot of protocols to ensure that we keep our women safe, but in reality is it happening?” she questioned.
Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, who is also former Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, made these remarks on Tuesday, March 10, on GBC Women’s Voice programme, which looked at “Realizing Women’s Right” as Ghana celebrates International Women’s Day.
She noted that it is important for society to be willing for change.
“It’s not just the enforcement. It’s also the willingness of the society for change. Our society must say no to acts against women. We as a society must sit up and say no, we must change. The change must come and it must be holistic.”
“The men must support the women. That’s why we initiated the HeForShe program; we actually launched the campaign when I was at the Ministry.”
She observed that there is also the lack of education and catch-up area.
“The NCCE must sit up and do its work. You know, once upon a time in Ghana, we didn’t go to school. Women, yours was to get married and have babies. And so, we [women] didn’t go to school at the time that the male child was going to school. That’s another problem, so there’s a catch area that we need to catch up.”
“If you look at rural Ghana, it’s a bit different from urban Ghana. Over 60% or 80% of women, depending on how rural you get, are not educated. What are our literacy groups doing in those communities? Everybody must at least have basic literacy skills to be able to read and know your name.”
“We have to revolutionise our minds to get both men and women to understand really what the equality is about. We must change our attitudes. We must stop being afraid of women. Women ourselves must support other women,” she added.
Story filed by Nerissa Mensah.
