STRANEK Declares Zero Tolerance for Gender Bias to Mark Women’s Day

Policy think tank, Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK-Africa) today marked international women’s day with a call to action towards eliminating all vestiges of gender discrimination and sexism.

In a message, the Gender and Social Policy Department of STRANEK-Africa said successes chalked in women’s rights and gender equality in Ghana risk eroding if deliberate efforts are not increased to push the boundaries even further.

“Even though there has been an increase of female Members of Parliament in the 8th Parliament of Ghana, there should not be gender bias with regards to Parliamentary affairs. These zero tolerances for gender bias should be replicated in all nooks and crannies of Ghana in order to achieve gender equality,” read part of a statement signed by Adjoa Tima Boafo, STRANEK’s Director for Gender and Social Policy.

Globally, 8th March is dedicated marked as international women’s day to raise awareness and sensitize the world about issues facing women.

Even though there has been some progress in the pursuit of equality and equity for women, there still remain cultural barriers against women in many places in the world. In Ghana, there still exists a witches’ camp in Gambaga while an archaic system of cultural slavery called trokosi still exists in parts of the Volta Region.

STRANEK said in their statement that there is the need for women to be given opportunities to help steer Ghana away from the current doldrums of COVID-19, calling the existing sexism barriers in Ghana “Jericho Walls”.

“STRANEK-Africa believes that if the barrier is broken, young women and girls will take the leading role to become leaders,” the statement read.