The Eastern Regional chapter of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT Ladies Societies) on Thursday, March 8 joined the World to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day at the Somanya Technical Institute.
The theme for the celebration was; “Empowering the Rural Woman: The Female Teacher in Focus, Case of Eastern Region’’.
The International Women’s Day is set aside to recognize the achievements of women without regard to divisions; national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
Eastern Regional GNAT Chairman, Mr. Apo Selby who doubles as the Headmaster of the Akuse Methodist Senior High School, delivering his welcome speech at the ceremony called on female teachers to use their gender to empower women in rural communities.
“It is necessary for female teachers to use their abilities to empower women in rural communities,” he said.
Mr. Apo Selby also encouraged female teachers and the women present to use their teaching tools to strengthen and open up to women in rural areas to take up the responsibilities to achieve a meaningful society for all.
On her part, Eastern Regional GNAT-LAS Coordinator, Madam Agnes Adusei said, it is useful to celebrate women’s achievement and strive gender inequality since women and girls suffer sexual violence.
According to her, celebrating the day provided the right stage for women to take action to join the world to fight against such violence against womenfolk.
“This day provides the right platform for women to take action and create the need to focus more attention to join the global fight to eliminate these violence acts in the world,” Madam Adusei noted.
The fight will only be fruitful if it is done together with government through the sustainable Development Goals, she added.
Mr. Daniel Afedu, Regional Secretary for GNAT who lamented on the rise in school relationships between teachers and students said the practice was as a result of such students not getting the required assistance from female teachers.
“The rise in teacher student relationships is as a result of the neglect of girls by their female teachers. It is about time teachers embraced girls in schools like their sisters and children rather than despising them,” Mr. Afedu said.
The Yilo Krobo Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Augustine Adusei in extolling the virtues of female teachers in the municipality said they play a significant role in society.
“Female teachers in Yilo Krobo are gallant in the success of education in the municipality. Female teachers are more influential in the Ghanaian society and you must continue to put in your best,” he charged.
Guest of Honor for the event, Mrs. Elizabeth Gadagbui –Dzade, Headmistress for the Yilo Krobo Senior High School urged the women to save for their future and sustain their businesses and plan properly.
He added that female teachers and women in general should be approachable and learn to take bold decisions and urged them to forgive at all times while forging ahead.
The Celebration was also graced by the 1st National Trustee of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, Regional Executives of GNAT, District Representatives, Headmasters and headmistresses, Women Fellowship of Evangelical and Presbyterian Church, Somanya, Market Queens, the Dressmakers and Beauticians Association and students.
The Global theme for this year’s commemoration was: “Women Too: Press on to Progress as Game Changers.”
In Ghana, the national theme for the observance of the day was: “Time is now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives”.
The first observance of a Women’s day was held on 28 February 1909 in New York.
Source: Joyce Bedeley/ritefmonline.org/jbedeley9357@gmail.com
