The National Youth Authority (NYA) has called for legislative measures that will eliminate all forms of discrimination against young women and enable them to participate “actively, equally and effectively” in decision-making at all levels.
“This will make young women aware of their rights and the opportunity to contribute immensely to societal development,” the Acting Upper West Regional Director of NYA, Mr Archibald Donkoh, said.
He was speaking at Network for Young Women Empowerment (NYWE) meeting- during an interactive session with queen mothers who met to discuss issues facing young women in the region.
NYWE is a youth-led group, created by NYA in the Upper West Region to empower women and girls to actively participate in the decision making process.
It also seeks to provide young women the platform to advocate on issues affecting adolescent girls and champion gender related matters.
Mr Donkoh said the potential of women to contribute effectively towards national development cannot be understated.
“One of the issues encountered by many young women in the country is inadequate opportunities for their participation in decision making process”, he said.
He called for conscious efforts to be made to change the status quo of young women in the society such that they could attain their full potential and contribute to the needs of the society.
Ida T. Nakaar, Chairperson of NYWE, said the network has provided a platform for women and girls to make decisions for themselves.
They have been provided the opportunity to address challenges that are confronting young women, she said, and that the network was guarded by the tenets of accountability, transparency, honesty and integrity.
Mr Eric Ayaba, the Programme Unit Manager of Plan International, said women have been left behind in terms of their contribution to development and urged the network to address the gap.
He appealed to queen mothers in the region to develop the interest in the network and seek to support the efforts of members.
