‘Women empowerment critical to national development’

By Kodjo Adams, GNA

Accra, March 12, GNA - Mr Lain Walker, the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Ghana, has called on African leaders to prioritise women issues and build their capacity to empower them to contribute to national development.

He said women must be given the opportunity to contribute to national discourse through training for active participation in governance.

Mr Walker made the call in Accra on Monday to mark the Commonwealth Day, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society.

The Day brought together students from British International School, Ridge International School, Association School, Hdyeson School, La Wireless Cluster of Schools, and Kinbu Senior High School among others.

This year’s theme is: “A Connected Commonwealth,” which offers opportunity for the people, governments and institutions to connect and work together at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill.

The year also marks the 70th Anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth as it is configured with old ties and new links enabling co-operation towards social, political and economic development, which is both inclusive and sustainable.

Mr Walker said the theme touches on prosperity, security and women empowerment and it was necessary for leaders to institute measures to ensure the wellbeing of the people for sustainable development.

He said issues of security was critical for nation building, adding that it behoves on member countries to resource its security apparatus and provide the enabling environment for peaceful existence as well as build investor confidence.

Mr Walker commended the country in its role in the Commonwealth, calling on all and sundry to connect together in all spheres of development to make a great impact as far as sustained development was concerned.

A speech read on behalf of her Majesty, the Queen, said the vision and sense of the Commonwealth inspired the signatories, which continued to grow, adapting to address contemporary needs.

She said the day brought together millions of people around the world because of the collective values shared by the Commonwealth adding that in April 2018, the Commonwealth welcomed the leaders of the 53 nations to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for the Heads of Government Meeting.

“The meeting witnessed how the Commonwealth vision offers hope and inspires us to find ways of protecting our planet, and our people,” she added.

With enduring commitment through times of great change, successive generations have demonstrated that whilst the goodwill for which the Commonwealth is renowned may be intangible, its impact is very real”.

Madam Mina Mensah, the Executive Director of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, said the theme called on all to connect together and respect the rule of law and human rights and ensure peace and unity prevailed in the country and beyond.

The students constituted a Commonwealth Heads of Meeting, representing 10 countries of the Commonwealth and debated on the topic “The Ban on Plastic Bottles”.

The students exhibited brilliance in their submissions with diverging views in favour and against the topic.

The Overall Best Delegates for Africa went to Nigeria, best delegates for Asia went to India, Jamaica won the best delegates for America and Caribbean, among other awards.

The Akropong School of the Blind were presented with books by Book Aid to aid teaching and learning in the School.

GNA

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