Accra, March 8, GNA – The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Ghana (FOMWAG) on Sunday called for intensified national efforts to protect the rights of women and girls and ensure they have justice and equal opportunities in all spheres of life.
The Federation said the protection and empowerment of women and girls must move beyond rhetoric to concrete actions that address inequalities and barriers facing them, particularly those from vulnerable and underserved communities.
The Federation made the call in a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day, observed globally on the theme: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
It said the theme was a powerful reminder for governments, institutions and communities to reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and girls and eliminating discrimination that hindered their progress.
The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the dignity, rights and welfare of Muslim women and girls in Ghana in line with the principles of Islam, the 1992 Constitution, and international human rights instruments.
It noted that Islam upheld justice, equity, compassion and respect for women, adding that such values must guide policies, social practices and community attitudes.
The statement expressed concern over persistent challenges confronting women and girls, including gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, child marriage, limited access to quality education and healthcare, economic exclusion and discrimination in decision-making spaces.
Such challenges, it noted, undermined national development and violated the fundamental rights of women and girls.
FOMWAG, therefore, called on government, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and development partners to intensify efforts to protect and enforce the rights of women and girls through effective laws and policies.
It also urged stakeholders to promote justice by ensuring accountability for all forms of abuse, violence and discrimination against women and girls, while taking concrete action to empower them economically, socially and politically, particularly at the grassroots level.
The Federation called for increased investment in education and skills development for the girl-child as a sustainable pathway to equality and national progress.
“Families and communities must create environments that respect the dignity of women and girls, encouraged their participation in leadership and decision-making, and support their aspirations without prejudice,” it said.
The statement noted that the pursuit of rights, justice and action for women and girls was not the responsibility of women alone but a collective national duty.
“When women and girls thrive, families, communities and the nation prosper,” it said.
FOMWAG reaffirmed its commitment to advocating, educating and partnering stakeholders to build a Ghana where all women and girls lived with dignity, enjoyed equal rights, accessed justice and contributed meaningfully to national development.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe