IWD: Advocates call for stronger enforcement of women’s rights

On International Women’s Day, women’s rights advocates in Ghana reiterated the need for continued action toward gender equality, emphasizing that while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.

Speaking on a special edition of The Forum on Saturday, March 8, Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation, stressed the importance of keeping the momentum alive. She called for more education on gender equality and, most importantly, stricter enforcement of laws designed to protect women. “It’s not just about passing laws; it’s about making sure they work in real life,” she said. She also urged the government to appoint more women to leadership positions to ensure that their voices are heard in key decision-making processes.

Fashion entrepreneur Okbell Bedwei Majdoub, founder of J’karta Fashion, shared her experiences as a woman navigating a male-dominated industry. She highlighted the barriers women face when seeking funding and market access, saying that economic empowerment is just as crucial as legal protections. “It’s about the money, the enforcement, and the mindset shift,” she pointed out. Through her business, she is helping to create opportunities for other women, proving that economic independence is a vital step toward true equality.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Accelerate Action, serves as a powerful reminder that real change requires collective effort. At the current pace, full gender equality could take several generations to achieve, making it even more important to push for faster progress.

The conversations on The Forum were a call to action—one that extends beyond just a day of celebration. As Dwamena-Aboagye put it, “We have come far, but we must keep the fire burning.”