We Must Reset the Agenda for Women’s Rights and Equity – Vice President

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By Stanley Kwabla Arku

Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, has called for urgent and sustained action to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Speaking at the 2025 Women’s Dialogue in Accra, held in commemoration of International Women’s Day, she stressed the need to reset the agenda for women’s rights under the theme: “Resetting the Agenda for Women: Accelerating Action on Women’s Rights, Equity, and Empowerment.”

The event, attended by government officials, gender advocates, international organizations, and civil society groups, provided a platform for discussions on the progress and challenges of achieving gender equity in Ghana and beyond.

In her keynote address, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that International Women’s Day is not just a time for reflection but a moment for decisive action. She urged women to recognize the achievements made in the fight for gender equality while acknowledging the work still required to break existing barriers.

“This is a day to celebrate progress, but more importantly, it is a day to recommit ourselves to the fight for justice, equity, and opportunity for all women,” she stated.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to gender equality, she highlighted key initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s leadership, strengthening legal protections against gender-based violence, and addressing systemic challenges such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and the high dropout rates among girls.

A major point of her address focused on menstrual health and its impact on girls’ education. She described it as unacceptable that the natural menstrual cycle continues to be a barrier to young girls’ academic progress. Recalling her tenure as Minister for Education under the National Democratic Congress government, she noted that deliberate measures had been taken to address this issue, and she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring access to sanitary products for girls.

“The directive has already been given to the Minister for Education to take immediate action in addressing these challenges. We will continue working to ensure that no girl is left behind due to a lack of resources,” she announced.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Naa Momo Lartey, emphasized the importance of creating spaces for honest conversations on gender equity. She stated that accelerating action on women’s rights should not be seen as an abstract concept but as an effort that directly affects women across the world.

“The conversation must be real, practical, and inclusive. We must create an enabling environment where women are not only heard but also given the tools and opportunities to thrive,” she noted.

The event also featured solidarity messages from international organizations and development partners, including UNICEF Ghana. Anne Kariuki, Deputy Representative for Operations at UNICEF Ghana, commended the country’s progress in improving the lives of girls and women.

“Ghana has made significant strides in increasing enrollment rates for girls in primary and senior high school, largely due to the Free Senior High School Policy,” she stated.

She further highlighted the decline in child marriages and spoke on issues of teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence, emphasizing the need for continued intervention. She also noted that UNICEF remains committed to supporting women entrepreneurs by providing resources and opportunities to help them succeed.

The 2025 Women’s Dialogue served as a powerful platform for renewed commitment and action toward gender equality.