Gender
Pres Mahama’s commitment to Affirmative Action Act commendable —Josephine Oppong-Yeboah
Media personality and gender advocate, Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, has applauded President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to implement the Affirmative Action Act of 2024 (Act 1121), aimed at achieving gender equity in all aspects of national life.
She stressed that the Act’s implementation will ensure women’s voices were heard and included in every sector of the country’s development.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) following his re-election, President Mahama, on February 27, reaffirmed his government’s dedication to operationalising the Affirmative Action Act.
He indicated that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection was working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the Act’s provisions, which includes a 30 per cent target quota for women in political appointments, were fully realised.
“I’m pleased to report that women currently make up 23.21 per cent of all appointments, and we are diligently working towards reaching the target outlined in Act 1121,” President Mahama noted.
The Affirmative Action Bill, passed by Parliament on July 30, 2024, was widely celebrated by women’s rights groups both within Ghana and internationally.
In response to the President’s pledge, Ms Oppong-Yeboah expressed her support, stating that the implementation of the Act will not only promote gender equity but also foster economic growth, strengthen democracy, and address historical inequalities.
“By empowering women and ensuring their full participation in all aspects of society, Ghana can build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all its citizens,” she remarked, adding, “Gender equality is directly tied to economic growth.”
She further emphasised that the Act will boost the visibility of women in leadership and influential roles, inspiring future generations of women to pursue their ambitions and creating a positive cycle of mentorship and empowerment.
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
Gender
Merck Foundation committed to empowering girls, women
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kelej, has emphasised the foundation’s commitment to empowering girls and women.
This, she said was at the core of all initiatives and programmes at the foundation.
She said this in a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, each year and copied to The Spectator in Accra on Monday.
Dr Kelej recognised the immense potential of women to thrive, succeed and excel in any domain they choose, yet they often lack the conducive environment to fully realise their capabilities, especially in underserved communities.
“Therefore, together with our Ambassadors, The First Ladies of Africa, we mark International Women’s Day every day since the last 13 years through our development programmes and initiatives such as ‘More Than a Mother’, ‘Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement’, ‘Educating Linda’, and ‘STEM Programme,” Dr Kelej said.
She explained that the “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education and change of mindset.
The CEO of Merck Foundation mentioned that out of the 2,230 scholarships awarded across 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, 1046 scholarships that is nearly 50 per cent have been granted to female medical graduates, empowering them to become future healthcare experts and leaders.
Also, she said the foundation believes that education was one of the most critical areas of women empowerment and that through its educational programme known as ‘Educating Linda,’ over 700 girls have been provided scholarships to continue their education.
Dr Kelej also noted that the programme had also provided essential school items for thousands of schoolgirls in many African countries such as Botswana, Burundi, Malawi, The Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cape Verde and more.
Merck Foundation, Dr Kelej said also actively empowers women in science and technology through its Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme.
“Our goal is to empower women and young African researchers, enhance their research capacity, and promote their contributions to STEM,” emphasized Dr Kelej.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Gender
Faith Dzakpasu receives huge global recognition
Ghana’s 2023 Best Teacher, Faith Aku Dzakpasu, has been named in the top 50 shortlist for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.
Organised by Varkey Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the award is given to an exceptional teacher making significant impact on students and the community.
She was selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications from 89 countries across the world.
Now in its ninth year, the one million dollars Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind.
She made the mark following an incredible teaching philosophy which focuses on innovative and inclusive strategies tailored to meet the diverse needs of students.
She also employs research-based methods like Layering Text, Cross Text Analysis and tools such as ChatGPT to simplify complex concepts.
Speaking to The Spectator in Accra on Monday, she explained that her classroom fosters creativity, active participation and hands-on learning, integrating digital tools like Canva and 3D modelling software.
“I have also established centres for supporting students with learning disabilities and offers creative modules to help all learners succeed, regardless of their challenges,” she stated.
“Being selected for this award is a remarkable milestone in my teaching journey as I look forward to impacting on children and society at large,” she stated.
She encouraged teachers to be committed to their duty and go the extra mile to impact knowledge into children.
“We must continue to find new way to make teaching and learning more flexible and understandable,” she stressed.
“Visually engaging classroom designs and inclusive methods would consistently boost attendance, confidence and academic performance,” she explained.
On her own, Mrs Dzakpasu founded the Street School Project, bringing education to street children and the Creative Aid Agenda, which has trained over 4,200 individuals in entrepreneurial skills like biodegradable paper bag crafting.
She also established the Mother of Many Missions orphanage project, supporting orphans with essentials and education. Her “Reinventing Behind Bars” initiative empowers incarcerated women with self-care and reintegration tools.
Ms Dzakpasu, is a teacher at Doblo Gonno Methodist Basic School in the Ga West Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
