Women are indispensable to the development of this Country – Ursula

The Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has emphasized the indispensable role of women in national development.

In her address, she highlighted that women play a vital role in various aspects of society and are essential contributors to the nation’s progress.

“What else will it take for the nation to recognize that women are indispensable to its development? Socially, economically, and in every aspect, we are crucial to the progress of this country, and we deserve a meaningful seat at the table—not as mere tokens. We don’t seek permission from men to join; rather, it’s our inherent right to be there.” She emphasized.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful made these remarks yesterday in Accra at the Women in Governance National Dialogue organized by the Eve Foundation in collaboration with OXFAM. The event was themed “Movement Building Towards an Equal Playing Field: Women Inclusion & Participation in Governance.”

The Women in Governance National Dialogue brings together women in politics, governance, and public administration, as well as women’s rights and advocacy organizations. Its aim is to address the underrepresentation of women in governance and politics and to unite stakeholders in advocating for inclusivity within governance and the political party system.

The conference brought together women in governance, leadership, NGOs, and academia, to shed light on the necessity of passing the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill by Ghana’s Parliament. This bill aims to guarantee heightened participation, empowerment, and leadership opportunities for women across all public and political levels

She said, “We have come to the end of the road, and this is the last alternative we have. It is necessary that the bill be passed to support women because we have the right to be seated at the table.”

“I pushed the boundaries of gender inclusion further when I took charge of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation. I inherited a Girls in ICT program, and upon reviewing it, I saw it as a great idea. I expanded it to create even more opportunities for young people to engage in the digital space.”

She emphasized that the Girls in ICT initiative has been instrumental in reducing the gender digital divide. “If we fail to equip our young people with digital skills, they will fall further behind in this predominantly male-dominated digital world. We need to take deliberate steps to implement meaningful interventions for gender inclusiveness.”

Regarding the conference: “Striving for equitable representation and influence in policy-making, public administration, and political decision-making processes through the enactment of an Affirmative Action Law is crucial for the country’s development.”