Africa-Press – Ghana. The 2025 Asogli Te Za (Yam Festival) has staged a special Women’s Day celebration under the theme “Empowering Women for Inclusive Development”.
The festival brought together government officials, traditional leaders, academics, and civil society to highlight women’s central role in national progress.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, who represented Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, shared personal experiences and paid glowing tribute to influential women who shaped her career.
She acknowledged mentors including, Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang, Mrs. Grace Omaboe, and Kooko Amatefio, alongside male allies such as Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, who had supported women in leadership.
“These mentors guided me, sometimes with tough love, but always with the aim of shaping me into a stronger leader,” she said.
The Minister praised President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to achieve 30 percent women’s representation in leadership and highlighted the passage of an affirmative action bill mandating 30 percent female participation by 2026, rising to 50 per cent by 2034.
She cited Mamaga Akua Dei II, Paramount Queen of Asogli state’s decision to reduce traditional widowhood rites to one month as proof that cultural leaders could drive positive change, stating, “This shows that even traditions can be reformed to respect women’s dignity.”
“Currently, women comprise only 40 percent in Parliament,” she noted, urging for stronger support systems to protect and promote women in leadership.
“Representation must go hand in hand with empowerment and protection,” she added.
Ambassador Sena Siaw-Boateng, chairperson of the Women’s Day celebration, said Ghana could only achieve justice, peace, and prosperity when women were empowered to play central roles and when unity and honesty guided development.
“With a 24-hour economy, productivity will no longer be limited to daylight hours,” she said. “This means creating decent jobs, empowering women, and expanding sectors such as health, tourism, agriculture, and information technology.
She called for honesty to guide fair wages and worker protections, and innovation to fuel service delivery.
“When women are included, nations flourish. When women rise, society stands taller,” she added.
Ambassador Siaw-Boateng commended Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli, and the festival planners for dedicating a day of the festival to women.
She also paid tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of women in the Volta Region and across Ghana, describing them as the backbone of society.
Togbe Afede, in his remarks, urged greater recognition of women’s contributions to national development. “Nations that fail to give equal rights to women do not develop. The most successful countries are those that treat women as equal partners in progress,” he said.
He welcomed government’s efforts to restore hope but warned that corruption remained Ghana’s greatest challenge. “Corruption has been our biggest problem. When resources are misapplied, it is the most vulnerable who suffer – women and children,” he said.
Citing the Auditor-General’s report, he noted Ghana lost GH¢18.4 billion in 2024 alone, and more than GH¢80 billion in the last five years. He called on women to support the anti-corruption fight. “If women help us distinguish between wants and needs, the scramble for state resources will not be as ferocious,” he said.
The chief endorsed the proposed 24-hour economy, saying it offered vast opportunities for women. “Our women represent a huge untapped resource. They must be central to the success of this policy,” he added.
He lamented persistent marginalisation despite constitutional guarantees of equality, citing harmful practices such as stigmatizing elderly women as witches. “When a woman lives to 110, she is called a witch, but when a man reaches the same age, he is celebrated. These are injustices we must fight,” he said.
Togbe Afede urged unity among women, warning against divisions that weakened their strength. “If you are vulnerable in society, then reason demands that you come together and be stronger,” he said.
He praised government’s promise to reserve 30 percent of appointments for women and plans to establish a women’s bank, noting that women in leadership were less likely to engage in corruption.
Professor Christopher Mensah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, noted that women’s empowerment was critical for national development.
“The potential of women continues to be curtailed by inequality and inclusion. Addressing these challenges is key to unlocking our progress,” he said.
Prof. Mensah said the Ho Technical University was honoured to host events that provided a platform for reflection, discussion, and inspiration.
“We hope today’s deliberations will energise us to continue promoting inclusivity and equity in all aspects of our national development,” he said.
The Women’s Day celebration featured cultural displays, tributes to female role models, drawing queen mothers, traditional leaders, students, and ministers of state in a colourful affirmation of women’s contributions to Ghana’s progress.
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