Women form the backbone of every society. Traditionally, women are expected to take care of the home, but these days we have career women who, besides performing the role of housewives, also contribute significantly to the development of society.
Until recently, there were professions and vocations which were seen as the preserve of men. Women who tried to break away from the orthodoxy were called names, instead of being encouraged to do more to enhance their own well-being and that of society.
Our governments have put in place interventions to address challenges that have undermined the growth and development of women and, by extension, their children.
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), in the 1980s, passed the Intestate Succession Law to provide the framework for women and their children to inherit the properties of their husbands who die without a will.
Subsequently, the government enacted the Domestic Violence Law and other policy measures to secure the welfare of women.
But these policy measures on their own do not address the abuse of women by society; their functionality depends on the commitment of society to enhance the status of women.
The results of the recent population census indicate that there are more women in the country than men, a situation which requires that our policy makers take into account the concerns of women if the policies they implement must achieve the desired results.
Owing to the exploits of women in recent times, it is generally held that what men can do, women can do better, as exemplified by the fact that many women have excelled in their chosen fields of endeavour.
Many years ago, our illustrious Dr Kwegyir Aggrey held the view that women held the key to the prosperity of society when he said, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
In spite of the efforts of the government to see to the growth of women, some individuals in society are working hard to reverse the progress. Increases in the rate of assault and killing of women by their husbands in recent times give cause for concern.
It is important for perpetrators to be prosecuted, so that they do not act with impunity. It is also important to create the structures, such as rehabilitation homes, where abused women and children can turn to in times of need.
On the occasion of the celebration of International Women’s Day that fell yesterday, the Daily Graphic calls on society to act in concert to protect women, so that, together with their male counterparts, women can work to change the world for the better.
We also call for more attention to be paid to the needs of women, so that they can rub shoulders with men in the struggle for the resources of our society.
The Daily Graphic calls on society to give equal opportunities to women for them to contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
We should also celebrate the achievements of ordinary women who continue to contribute to the needs of society, for without that recognition, society cannot surmount the challenges that retard our progress.
