The Eastern Regional women’s chapter of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT – LAS) has held a colorful ceremony to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.
The Day which has been internationally set aside to celebrate the efforts and contribution of women across the globe on the 8th day of March every year was colorfully commemorated by the Eastern Regional ladies wing of the Ghana National Association of Teachers with a call on stakeholders to support and acknowledge the hard efforts of female teachers in raising future leaders in all aspects of nation building on Wednesday at the premises of the Grace congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Nkawkaw in the Kwahu West Municipality.
Addressing participants at the ceremony, Miss Sabina Dosu, the 2019 National Best teacher from the St. Dominic R/C Junior High School in the Denkyembour District of the Eastern Region entreated her fellow female teachers to critically endeavour to observe every child in hand to help unearth their God given hidden talents and assist in building them.
“I want to entreat all teachers, especially the female teachers, to always observe our kids critically because every child has a hidden talent which they themselves do not know off. It only takes a good teacher to know what that child is meant for and help harness such talents “* .She said.
Hon. Lawyer Joyce Opoku Boateng, the administrator at the Middle Belt Development Authority and the only female contestant among five other male hopefuls for the Nkawkaw NPP parliamentary seat, who was guest speaker at the event in her speech, indicated the the days when the role of women was relegated to kitchen was over. She also noted that, the United Nations now recognises the immense role and contribution of women in nation building and therefore needed to be given the needed support and encouragement in order to enable women give out their best in society hence the institution of the international women’s day.
“, My message for the GNAT -LAS today is that, they are the foundation keepers of every child, especially the girl child and therefore, they must be the champions in inculcating the spirit of gender equality and women empowerment and therefore focus on organising series of programs to sensitize the children , especially the girl child to take up responsibilities and rise up to the challenge of becoming the sort of useful human resources required to lift the fortunes of the nation” . She said.
Eastern Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw, Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfour who was special guest of honor at the event on his part, admonished women not to accept an old adage that suggests that they are their own enemies but rather support each other in the fight for gender libration and equality.
The Regional Minister further indicated that the Akufo Addo led government has put in place several opportunities that should reduce poverty and elevate women to contribute their quota to national development. According to him, the International Women’s day is all about the unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, action and about women in the in the entire world to make the best out of themselves to help make the world a better place to live. Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfour further reminded the female teachers of government’s desire to improve the educational sector by the introduction of the Flagship Free SHS and commitment to pay teacher trainee allowances to help improve teaching and learning in our schools.
The Eastern Regional Coordinator for GNAT – LAS, Mrs Agnes on her part called for the review of the International Labour Organization’s law on maternity especially articles 3,4,5 and 8. She also appealed to government to provide bursary for female teachers in the rural areas to enable them further their education as well as organise regular training and workshops for both male and female teachers to help broaden their knowledge base.
Report by Nana Kwame Andoh