On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls of Nima. The community is considered the largest and one of the oldest Zongo communities in Ghana with a large number of the residents being Muslims. We celebrate their contributions, ideas, innovations and activism that are changing the growing perception of Nima being a violent prone community to a more peaceful and accommodating area.
To us as FOSDA, this year’s theme: ‘Gender Equity Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ rightly demands of us to find indigenous solutions to the growing gaps between men and women as well as boys and girls in our local communities. Whiles we recognize and appreciate the achievements of women and their contribution to sustainable societies we are of the firmed believe that in too many areas, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards. In the face of COVID-19 pandemic, over 200,000 girls were impregnated, with at 2865 of the girls being between 10 and 14 years below the age of consent.[1]
Women in our local communities like Nima face rising poverty and varied degrees of biases including education and good health care. It is time to deliberately create spaces for women and girls to participate and also be protected from all forms of societal biases that limit their capacity to reach their full potential and exercise their rights. A Tomorrow without women’s full participation is not sustainable.
As this year’s theme reminds us, FOSDA strongly believes that development cannot be sustained when over 50% of the Ghanaian population are not equally represented and participating in critical policy decision making spaces across the country. Beginning from now, it’s time to turn the clock on a forward drive for every woman and girl across the globe for inclusion and accelerated development.
We call for quality education for every girl especially in the rural settings focusing on Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); so, they can build the lives they want; a massive investment in women’s training on TVET for decent work; and a positive action to end gender-based violence across the country.
Imagine a home of equal gender opportunities; a home free of biases; stereotypes, and discrimination. A home that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A home where difference is valued and celebrated. That is the product of our community, our country and our wold when we have broken the biases against women and girls. Together we can forge women’s equality.
Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, all night. We can break the bias in our homes, communities our workplaces, in our schools, colleges and universities. Together, we can all break the bias – beyond the International Women’s Day (IWD). Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field. We can actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time you see it. The change starts with you, be part of the change, help break the bias?
The time is now!