Gender
A ‘bow’ for Ghanaian women at Christmas
Christmas is a festive season celebrated by most Christians worldwide to commemorate the birth of their saviour Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem in Roman- controlled Judea. The birth of Jesus Christ is described in the biblical gospels of Matthew and Luke, but there is no definitive historical evidence for the exact date
The gospels and historical sources do not provide a date for Jesus’ birth, but most scholars believe it was between six and four Before Christ (BC).
His parents Joseph, a carpenter was legally Jesus’ father, but Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit
The commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ known as Christmas is celebrated on December 25, but there is no evidence that Jesus was born on that date. Church leaders may have chosen that date to coincide with a Roman festival.
As the season draws closer across the globe, various activities are planned by churches, organisations and families.
In Ghana, Christmas celebrations tend to start around the December 20, lasting till the New Year with lots of activities which go on during the festive period, with the main focus being on people travelling around the country to visit family and friends.
It is celebrated with a variety of traditions, including church services, gift-giving, preparing, sharing and eating of traditional food like fufu with chicken or goat soup, rice and stew or jollof rice.
Church services are held late into the night, featuring dancing, drumming, choir singing, and sometimes a nativity play with people attending in traditional clothing, and then exchange gifts.
In Ghana, during the festive celebrations in homes are mostly spearheaded by women regardless of what they already do on any given day.
Women add extra chores such as buying and wrapping presents, planning and preparing meals in large quantities, attending parties, stuffing food stuffs, decorating the house and ensuring everyone and everything was intact.
Women, both young and old become the pivot around which every home revolves around during festive periods especially Christmas.
All of this time-consuming, behind-the-scenes activities can make the season especially uptight, particularly for women. They do most of the chores at home with the mindset of this is a “me” job, “I am a better multi-tasker,” “so I will just do it.” “If I do not do it, no one will” and so forth. This they do to ensure everyone is ok during the festive season and beyond.
An American Sociological Review found that women reported doing more “cognitive labour” at home than their spouses did – anticipating, identifying options, making decisions and monitoring progress.
Throughout the year, women have demonstrated remarkable dedication and perseverance, effortlessly juggling their responsibilities at home and in their various workplaces. Their ability to balance these dual roles has earned them admiration and appreciation from all.
At home, women have taken on numerous roles: caregivers, nurturers, educators, and managers. They have ensured the well-being and happiness of their families, often putting others’ needs before their own.
In the workplace, women have made significant contributions across various industries, exceling in fields such as business, healthcare, education, technology, journalism and more. Their hard work, expertise, and leadership have earned them recognition and respect.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including gender biases and societal expectations, women have continued to thrive and make a positive impact in their communities. Their resilience, adaptability, and determination have inspired countless others.
As we celebrate the holiday season, let us take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the tireless efforts of women everywhere. Their selflessness, compassion, and dedication to their families and communities are truly deserving of our recognition and gratitude.
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us also honor the women who have made a positive impact in our lives throughout the year and give them a “bow” of respect, gratitude, and admiration.
The role of women in Ghanaian society is multifaceted and invaluable. They are the backbone of our families, providing love, support, and nurturing to their children and loved ones.
They are also pillars of our communities, contributing to economic development, education, healthcare, and social welfare.
This Christmas, there is the need to honor the Ghanaian woman for her unwavering dedication, resilience, and compassion and celebrate her strength, her perseverance, and her selflessness.
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is important to remember the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who embodied the values of love, kindness, and selflessness and draw inspiration from her example and recognise the invaluable contributions of Ghanaian women to our society.
To all Ghanaian women, The Spectator salutes you this Christmas season. May your love, kindness, compassion, and selflessness continue to inspire us all.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a Deputy Chief of Staff, has called for sustained legal and institutional reforms to address gender biases within Ghana’s justice system.
She urged women lawyers to build on the legacy of trailblazers who have shaped the country’s legal landscape.
Madam Bampoe Addo made the call at the maiden Biennial Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum, organised in collaboration with the Ghana School of Law in Accra on Tuesday.
The event was on the theme: “The role of women lawyers in national development: honouring trailblazers.”
Madam Bampoe Addo said the progress made by women in the legal profession was not accidental but the result of years of struggle, sacrifice and determination.
She paid tribute to early trailblazers such as Matilda Foster and Annie Jiagge, saying their achievements broke barriers and opened doors for generations of women lawyers.
She commended the contributions of female judicial leaders, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, and Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, whose leadership reflected the growing influence of women in Ghana’s judiciary.
Women lawyers had made significant contributions across multiple sectors, including the courtroom, academia, policy development, civil society advocacy and community engagement.
Madam Bampoe Addo noted that their efforts had advanced gender equality, strengthened institutions and improved access to justice in the country.
She expressed concern about the persistent gender biases within the justice system, particularly in some judicial pronouncements that could undermine the dignity of women.
The courts, she noted, must not only deliver justice but must also communicate it in a manner that upheld respect and fairness for all parties.
“There is undervaluation of women’s unpaid domestic labour, including caregiving responsibilities, which are often overlooked in legal determinations, especially in matrimonial cases,” she added.
She called for a more progressive and context-sensitive approach to adjudication, drawing on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions to ensure fairness and equity.
Madam Bampoe Addo urged legal practitioners and judges to build on progressive legal precedents and ensure that Ghana’s legal system evolved to reflect contemporary social realities.
She emphasised the importance of mentorship and inclusivity, encouraging women in leadership to create opportunities for others and support the next generation of female lawyers.
She called on young women to pursue legal careers with confidence, adding that the profession offered vast opportunities to contribute to national development.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor, the Director-General of CID, said women lawyers played indispensable roles in shaping Ghana’s legal and governance systems.
They had excelled in various fields and occupied key leadership positions, contributing to policy reforms and championing justice for vulnerable groups, she added.
COP Donkor paid tribute to trailblazing women lawyers whose achievements continued to inspire and motivate younger generations to strive for excellence.
She urged students and young practitioners to go beyond academic successes and embrace the broader mission of promoting justice, fairness and societal transformation.
She encouraged more women lawyers to consider careers in the Ghana Police Service, describing law enforcement as a critical area where legal expertise was needed to strengthen justice delivery.
She commended the organisers of the conference for the success, saying it would encourage the next generation of women lawyers to continue to make significant contributions to Ghana’s development. – GNA
The Dzidula Pink Foundation has engaged expectant mothers on cervical cancer at a recent pregnancy clinic held at St Gregory Hospital, Budumburam in the Awutu Senya East District.
The engagement formed part of its advocacy on early cancer detection to safeguard maternal health.
It also formed part of the foundation’s broader mission to raise awareness about cancers affecting women, particularly at a time when many may be least likely to consider screening especially pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Addressing a gathering of pregnant women at the clinic, the president of the foundation, Ms Fafa Gozo, highlighted a worrying trend where a significant number of women are diagnosed with cancer around the time of delivery.
This, she noted, often results from delayed screening and limited awareness about the importance of early detection.
She educated the women about the need to prioritise their health by undertaking timely cancer screening, even while navigating the demands of pregnancy.
She reiterated that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality.
“Pregnancy should not be a reason to delay screening. In fact, it is a critical period where heightened awareness can save lives,” Ms Gozo said.
The engagement also created a platform for open dialogue, allowing the expectant mothers to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance from health professionals present at the clinic.
Health experts at the facility echoed the foundation’s message, underscoring that routine checks and screenings, when done early, can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes for both mother and child.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
