By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Odomase (Bono), March 10, GNA- Women and girls have been urged to pick inspiration from the Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, remaining confident in pursuing and achieving their life dreams and aspirations.
Nana Yaa Sakyiwaa Korkor III, the Queen-mother of Amasu in the Dormaa Traditional Area, gave the advice when she addressed a forum to mark the 2026 celebration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) at Odomase, the Sunyani West Municipal capital.
She noted growing up as a girl, the Vice President was able to defy all odds, overcome existing societal norms and stereotypes that impeded the holistic growth and development of girls to achieve her life career in academics and politics.
Nana Korkor III, also the Ankobeahemaa (sub-chief) of the Dormaa Traditional Area said that the life achievements of the Vice President were a clear indication that girls and women had no excuse to fail in whatever they do in secular life, urging them to always strive for excellence.
The Bono Regional Office of the Department of Gender in collaboration with the Young Urban Women, a civil society organisation, with support from ActionAid Ghana, a non-governmental organisation organised the forum, attended by school girls and queen-mothers.
Celebrated annually, the IWD which falls on March 8, was instituted by the United Nations (UN) to recognise the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, advocating measures to tackle barriers impeding women development.
The celebration was on the theme: “Give to Gain: Investing in safety, dignity and justice for women and girls.”
Nana Korkor III noted that the contributions of women’s national development remained unparalleled, urging them to be resolute, disallowing societal norms and stereotypes to limit them.
She admitted that not every girl or woman was good in the academic field, the government’s entrepreneurship programmes were available for those who could not pursue a higher education to learn employable skills training and to fetch decent jobs for themselves.
“In fact, numerous opportunities are available now for women and girls. We must leverage on that and build a meaningful life for ourselves and families,” Nana Korkor III advised.
She expressed concern about rising teenage pregnancy in the country and advised young women and girls to stay away from premarital sex, as well as unhealthy sexual behaviours that could ruin their future.
Mrs Joycelyn Adii, the Bono Regional Director of the Department of Gender called for collective approach to tackle challenges inimical to the holistic growth and development of women and girls in the region.
She said gender-based violence like wife beatings, rape and defilement were still common in the region saying that tackling those challenges required concerted and collective efforts and to preserve the dignity of women and girls.
Describing women as perfecters, Mrs Adii said more was expected from them in shaping society, and called on women not to despise themselves, saying that with focus and diligence women build themselves and occupy enviable positions in politics and secular life.
GNA