WiSA launched to accelerate growth, close gender inequality gap

 Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) has been launched in Accra with an aim to acceler­ate growth and the closure of gender inequality gap.

Speaking at the launch, the Con­venor for WiSA, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, said that, “Gender inequality gap cannot be closed by women alone, calling for catalytic efforts to cause a revolution in order to achieve such goal.”

Madam Sarpong also stated that, “this is the new beginning of gender empowerment and the new wave which must be propagated across Afri­ca without any antagonism.”

She said the key to bridging gen­der inequality gap is two sided, say­ing that, “First is men standing side by side with women and secondly, the recognition of women as a source of labour with positive return on every investment that is made to build ca­pacity in women.”

Additionally, Madam Sarpong underlined that the organisation will work with men, ‘he or she’ cham­pions, CSOs, Corporate Institutions, local and International Development Organisations to bring all women and women groups together (especially those at the grassroots level) to fos­ter the achievement of the Sustain­able Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said recognising the proportionate impact of climate change on women, the Ministry has developed a roadmap to strengthen gender responsiveness of social pro­tection programmes.

According to her, this initiative aims to ensure that their interven­tions were inclusive, equitable and effective in building resilience among vulnerable populations.

The campaign will be celebrated as part of the activities of May 1, and throughout the month of May every year.

She disclosed that in partnership with WiSA and other stakeholders.

Dr Lartey again indicated that he Ministry will use the campaign to recognise women nationally and continentally as sources of labour and agents of sustainability.

Furthermore, the Minister stated that the campaign would be rolled out in schools, media platforms and community spaces.

The Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Issifu Seidu, on his part said, “African women have always been the back­bone of our communities, playing key roles in agriculture, healthcare, education, and the informal economy.

However, he noted that their contributions remain undervalued and underappreciated in many spheres of society.

 By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu