Members of the Women’s Wing of the Tema District of the Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union of the Trades Union, Ghana, have met to celebrate the International Women’s Day to assess the general scope of gender equality in today’s world as well as deliberate on issues confronting women in the maritime industry.
Abdul-Rahman Baidoo, Chairman of the MDU encouraged the first female Director of Port of Tema, to continue to play a key role in conscientizing the organisation towards increased women participation, especially in areas of leadership.
The General Secretary of the Maritime and Dockworkers Union, Daniel Owusu Koranteng, said women possess some innate strengths even superior to that of men and should be allowed more opportunities of work in the maritime industry.
“We live in a world now where it is not about the muscles or height, but the brain. Women have emotional intelligence and they are people-centred. They think about society.”
The Director of Tema Port, Sandra Opoku, who was the guest speaker at the meeting, explained the essence of gender equality for global socio-economic development.
“It is the precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, and building good governance. You need women, because we are nurturers and because we make more than half of the population,” she asserted.
She encouraged the membership of the women’s wing of the MDU, to stay focused on their various assignments, and stand their grounds at their areas of work, against any form of intimidation.
“Because of your good work, other women would also be given the opportunity,” she urged.