The Office of the Women Executive Officer, University Teachers’ Association Ghana (UTAG-UHAS) in collaboration with the UHAS-SRC Women’s Commission has observed this year’s International Women’s Day with a call to invest in women and include them in national development.
Speaking at the March 8th event themed “Count her in: Invest in women, accelerate development”, Professor Margaret Gyapong, Director of the Institute of Health Research (IHR), noted that the fight for women’s rights has come a long way since 1911 and given the right push and access, societies will be better off and likely to prosper.
She said a research paper released by Women in Global Health has shown that women hold about 70% of health worker jobs globally, but despite their significant contribution to nurturing and saving lives, make up only 25% of leadership roles in their given fields. “If leadership roles were allowed based on merit, then women, who form the majority, should be in leadership roles,” she added.
Prof. Gyapong noted with pleasure how UHAS is passionately implementing its Strategic Goal Five of diversity and inclusion where women have risen to the highest offices in their respective fields. “We will strive to live that belief as champions of inclusive community by creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and creating equal opportunities for all.”
Dr. Sitsofe Gbogbo, a lecturer with the School of Public Health said the Day was not just a celebration but “a call to action. It is a reminder that despite the progress made, gender equality remains an elusive goal in many parts of the world.”
She said empowering women is not only morally right but also a strategic investment in the prosperity and well-being of societies. She therefore called on society to champion the cause of women and girls and work towards a future where gender equality is not just a goal but a reality.
Prof. Judith Torgbor-Anaman, Dean of Students, speaking on career development and job readiness, said the journey can be daunting, especially for female students; nevertheless, they have to prepare and enter the job market. She said these young women have to be prepared and armed with comprehensive career guidance to allow them to compete and excel in their chosen careers. She therefore called on mentors to note and nurture the potentials that reside in their mentees to allow them thrive and rise to their full potential.
Other speakers included Dr. Faith Agbozo, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Family and Community Health, who engaged the students on balancing academic and personal life with self-care and stress management, and took them through simple simulation exercises in discovering their temperaments and dealing positively with themselves.
Dr. Anita Fafa Dartey, head of the Department of Public Health Nursing in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, spoke on opportunities and limitations of Ghanaian women’s empowerment, while Dr. Inemesit Okon Ben spoke on dealing with culture shocks.
Dr. Hubert Amu, Secretary of UHAS-UTAG, noted that women have the potential to rise with their male counterparts but the barriers of deep-rooted patriarchy, economic inequality, and gender-based violence, among others, keep obstructing their rise. He noted that men as supporters can help erase these imposed barriers and push for an equitable world for all.